MU to confer honorary doctorates

Mangaluru: Mangalore University will confer honorary doctorates on the founder chairman of MRG Group, K Prakash Shetty; founder and president of the Thumbay Group, Thumbay Moideen; and NRI businessman Ronald Colaco at the 42nd annual convocation to be held at Mangala Auditorium on its campus on Saturday.
PL Dharma, vice-chancellor of Mangalore University, told reporters here on Friday, that the chancellor of the university and governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot will preside over it and confer degrees to all the candidates.Prof Sachin Chaturvedi, director general of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, will be the chief guest, and deliver the convocation address. Minister for higher education MC Sudhakar, who is also the pro-chancellor of the university, will also participate as a guest, the VC said.
During the convocation, 155 candidates, including 22 foreign nationals, will receive the doctor of philosophy (PhD). Meanwhile, there are 58 gold medals and 57 cash prizes. Out of 29,465 students who appeared for the 2022-23 university examinations, 21,319 (72.4%) have passed. Only PhD candidates, gold medallists, first rank holders, and cash prize winners will receive their degree in person during the convocation. The degree certificates of all eligible students, who have paid the fee, will be sent to the concerned departments or colleges by the end of June, said Dharma.
On honorary doctorates, the VC said that the university had sent 12 proposals to the governor, who in turn selected three individuals.
The journey of Korangrapady Prakash Shetty from a small town to a global tycoon is a testament to his tenacity and perseverance.
A prominent figure in the hospitality and infrastructure business, Shetty is the driving force behind the MRG Group. His influence extends beyond business, marked by his generosity and dedication to social causes, Dharma said.
Thumbay Moideen, a third-generation entrepreneur from a well-known business family in Mangaluru, took over the reins of the business house established by his father.
The Thumbay Group, founded by him, is a diversified international business conglomerate headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, with operations across 20 sectors.
The organisation employs up to 5,000 employees in the UAE, and has been ranked among ‘The Top Indian Business Leaders in The Arab World’ by Forbes Middle East, he said.
Meanwhile, Ronald Colaco, a man with a vision and unwavering determination to achieve only the highest pinnacles of success, is an inspiration to all aspiring entrepreneurs. An NRI businessman based in Dubai, Colaco started his professional career in Oman in 1975 as an accountant.
Over the next few decades, he worked with some of the biggest companies across eight Gulf and European countries, climbing the hierarchical ladder to head of accounts and administration and financial controller. He has been very active in promoting socio-cultural, charitable, and philanthropic activities in his endeavour to give back to society in a big way.
Constituent college issue
PL Dharma, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University, said that the university has neither received statutes nor funds from the government to run its constituent colleges.The university has already sent letters to the higher education minister and the chancellor of the university in this regard, Dharma said in reply to a query. “Constituent colleges at Bannadka, Nellyadi, Mangalore University campus and the evening colleges have not received statute from the government for over four years. The university has lost its major source of income due to several reasons,” he said.