Malaysia’s top private university, Taylor’s University launches the Taylor’s Alumni Maldives Chapter here in Malé, creating opportunities for its alumni to reconnect with their alma mater and peers. The ceremony was attended by industry guests, senior officials, faculty members and staff of Taylor’s University and Villa’s College, and Taylor’s alumni.

The Event started with a cocktail reception at 8:00pm, followed by speeches by Professor Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, the Executive Dean of Taylor’s University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management; Mohamed Riza, Taylor’s Alumni Maldives Chapter Lead and Malik Ridhwan, Taylor’s Alumni Malaysia Chapter EXCO. The Event featured a keynote speech by growth mindset advocate and hospitality leader Mr Iyaz Waheed, the President of Universal Foundation on the topic of “The Remarkable Resilience of Maldives Tourism”. One of the highlight of the Event’s proceedings featured the award presentations to recognize alumni for their professional achievements, contributions to society and support of the University and ended with dinner, and networking session until 11:00pm.

Graduate with Taylor’s Qualification in Villa College

Taylor’s University and Villa College has agreed to collaborate to offer 5 programmes, which are Master’s in International Hospitality Management, Master’s in Communication, Bachelor of International Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Culinary Management, and Bachelor of Mass Communication. This allows students to study at Villa college and graduate with a Taylor’s degree qualifications. These programmes are flexible enough to allow mobility of students either to study for 3 years, 2 years or 1 year in either institution. “We believe it will open the opportunities to those who are keen to get access the to the world class brand of Taylor’s University at your doorstep now in Maldives” said Professor Neethia in his opening speech.

Through its establishment, the Taylor’s Alumni Maldives Chapter hopes to grow the current alumni community through meaningful engagements and initiatives that will bring value and serve alumni’s needs. The Institution hopes to reconnect their alumni world-wide with the plan to establish various country chapters for stronger alumni network globally and to create a platform for alumni to expand their network for personal and professional growth. To-date, Taylor’s University has successfully launched the Malaysia, China, Indonesia and now the Maldives Alumni chapter. The University will be launching the South Korea chapter in mid-2023, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka chapters in 2024.

The Event’s proceedings also saw the recognition of alumni in two categories - Outstanding Distinguished Alumni Award and Young Distinguished Alumni Award - the highest honours bestowed on a graduate of Taylor’s School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events (SHTE) & Taylor’s School of Food Studies & Gastronomy (SFSG). It recognizes outstanding alumni for their professional achievements, contributions to society and support of the University.

It is also note worthy that the Vice Rector of Villa College, Dr. Ali Najeeb also got appointed as an Associate Professor at the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, Taylor's University at this event.

The award recipients for the 2 categories are:-

Outstanding Distinguished Alumni Award

1.               Qaisar Naseem

2.               Mohamed Fraath

Young Distinguished Alumni Award

1.               Hussain Ahusan

2.               Aminath Ishrath

3.               Shujau Mohamed

The Alumni Reunion gathering is one of Taylor’s University’s yearly events which aim to reconnect alumni with their alma mater, and represents an effective link between the wonderful past and the bright future. It is the bridge of potential that Taylor’s University has pledged to keep open for its graduates, reconnecting with old friends and colleagues, and bringing them back for networking, communication and entertainment.