Culture & Education | Sunday 6 November, 2016 5:57 pm |

In a unique initiative to promote entrepreneurship among the alumni and students of Gulf Medical University (GMU), the university has launched the ‘GMU Startup Lab’, which will support aspiring medical entrepreneurs transform their business ideas into reality. The initiative was launched by the chief guest His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, Ajman, at the GMU Annual Global Alumni Summit held at Ajman Saray Hotel, on Sunday, 6th November 2016. 

At the convention, His Highness Sheikh Rashid further announced that under the directions of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, ruler of the Emirate of Ajman and a member of the UAE Supreme Council of the Union, the Gulf Medical University will be strengthened into a full-fledged university, offering engineering and business management courses.

 The function was also attended by Mr. Thumbay Moideen - Founder President and Chairman of Board of Governors of GMU, Prof. Gita Ashok Raj – Provost of GMU, the Deans of various colleges of GMU and a large gathering of over 200 GMU alumni from across 10 countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Thumbay Moideen, said, “We’re in the middle of maximizing reach for quality education in the emirate of Ajman. Once the university adds engineering and business management courses, GMU will be renamed as Thumbay University."

GMU Startup Lab is intended to serve as a platform to equip GMU alumni and students with the knowledge and understanding to get their business ideas up and running. Through this, the university will support brilliant business ideas providing assistance on networking, insight, funding and documentation. The GMU Startup Lab initiative will also volunteer customized support, providing access to funding and investments, referrals, on-campus office location, guidance and mentoring and legal compliance. 

On promoting new ideas and businesses, Mr Moideen, said: “The Start-Up Lab has been formulated to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare-industry. Under this component, special efforts would be made to identify, support and expand the role of competitive healthcare service delivery in a global economy. It is our earnest endeavor to provide mentoring and support to GMU’s healthcare alumni and students through various workshops, referrals and financial pooling."

The GMU Global Alumni Summit also honored 15 outstanding alumni with mementos, for their remarkable career achievements, celebrating 18 years of an industry-defining medicine program that has developed thousands of healthcare leaders. Mr. Moideen commended the efforts of GMU’s academic leadership led by Prof. Gita Ashok Raj, in making GMU one of the most sought-after private medical university in the region, attracting students from all over the globe. “For us at the Gulf Medical University, it is heartening to see alumni create a positive impact in different countries and communities. Looking back, I am happy that our efforts to provide quality medical education and to nurture homegrown talent have given excellent results.”

He further added, “Our teaching hospitals train close to one-fifth of the doctors and around 60 percent of the healthcare professionals in the country. This enjoins more responsibilities on us,” he said. Prof. Gita Ashok Raj recalled the journey of GMU during the last 18 years and reiterated GMU’s commitment to emerge as a full-fledged research-based university, by 2020.”