TKMCEUAE

It was a hot sunny afternoon on a Friday in June 1987. 20 engineers, young to middle aged, who had passed out from TKM College of Engineering met each other at the Indian Association, Sharjah. They took the dusty chairs from the Store room, cleaned them and sat under the hot tin roof of the hall with no air conditioning and started a discussion. Little did they realize that they were creating history! TKMCE UAE Chapter, which currently has a membership of over 1,200 and is probably the biggest alumni association in UAE was thus born!

The first meeting was presided by Mr.Balagangan, who was a faculty member and Mr.Natarajan, the seniormost member in the meeting, was elected as the President. Mr.George Sebastian (late) was nominated the Secretary and Mr.Balagangan was the Treasurer. They were the office bearers for the next three years. EXCOM meetings were held in the homes of office bearers and Mr. Joseph Thomas’s, all of which were in Karama.

The first annual get-together was held in 1988 at the present Rydges Plaza at Satwa. Around 50 families came and it was a big success. There were some games, dances and songs by the children. Everyone who attended was given gifts including the right gifts for children for their age, all gift-wrapped by the office bearers and founder members personally. Backdrop was designed and drawn by the painter at Dixie Cola, courtesy Mr. Joseph Thomas, which continued till 1991.

As years passed, the organization grew by leaps and bounds. After the Parent Chapter at the College, UAE Chapter has the highest member strength amongst the various chapters in India and abroad. TKMCE UAE Chapter was the pioneering organization in the formation of KERA (Kerala Engineering Alumni), UAE, the apex body of nine engineering college alumni associations in UAE.

Operations of the UAE Chapter are governed by the Bye-Laws formed in 1987, which is currently being reviewed by a Committee. The general body consists of all members registered with the UAE Chapter. There is no registration fee for joining the association. UAE Chapter is spearheaded by a democratically elected Office Bearers and ably supported by the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee are nominated from the general body held as part of the annual get together, normally held every year on December 2, the National day of UAE. Term of office is for one year and elections are held annually.

The goals of the organization may be summarized as follows:

• To promote social interaction between members and their families through meetings, get-together etc.
• To assist each other in career development.
• To develop artistic and cultural talents among the members and their families.
• To promote Indo-Arab relationship.
• Scholarships/Awards for the B.Tech Degree students of TKMCE, Kollam.

Ever since its inception, TKMCE UAE Chapter has marched forward strengthening the fraternal bond among its members and their families and nurturing a vibrant relationship with the Alma Mater. The annual event calendar consists of various technical, cultural, artistic, charity and family events, catering to the interests of the alumni and their family members. 

SCHOLARSHIPS INSTITUTED BY THE UAE CHAPTER.

1. Best student award (Instituted in 1994) This award is given to an outgoing student based on his/her general proficiency.
2. George Sebastian Memorial Gold medal for Electrical Branch (Instituted in 1994) This award (in the name of Late Mr. George Sebastian, founder secretary of TKMCE Alumni, UAE) is given to a top-ranking outgoing student of Electrical Engineering branch.
3. TKMCE Alumni UAE Chapter Scholarships (Instituted in 1996) These Scholarships are awarded to two deserving and financially poor students (one each from second and third year B.Tech Degree course). The students are selected on merit-cum-means basis and an amount of Rs.500/- per month is given to each student for the entire academic year.
4. Prof. M.K.A. Hameed Memorial Scholarship (Instituted in 2001) This scholarship (in the name of former Principal Late Prof. M.K.A. Hameed) is awarded to a deserving and financially poor student of final year B.Tech Degree course. The student is selected on merit-cum-means basis and an amount of Rs.500/- per month is given for the entire academic year.

Proficiency awards for the children of Alumni members in UAE

Gold medals are awarded every year to the children of alumni members who pass Board / Public exams with highest marks (10th and 12th Standards of Kerala Board, CBSE and ICSE) from UAE Schools during the previous academic year.