Thursday, October 15, 2009

BWI: Alpha-SIFE Brings India a first-of-its-kind Victory in SIFE World CUP 2009

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: SIFE India
Thursday, October 15, 2009 02:11 PM IST (08:41 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest; Business: Advertising, PR & marketing, Education & training, Information technology; Technology
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Alpha-SIFE Brings India a first-of-its-kind Victory in SIFE World CUP 2009


Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Thursday, October 15, 2009 -- (Business Wire India) -- Alpha-SIFE, student entrepreneurship project team of Alpha Arts and Science College, Chennai, has emerged as First runner-up in SIFE World CUP 2009 conducted annually. This is a first-of-its-kind victory for an Indian college in an international student entrepreneurship competition showcasing business skills of students across the world. The competition was a two-day event held recently (on 5th and 6th of October 2009) at Berlin, Germany, in which nations including USA, UK, France, Russia, Australia, Japan and China among many others competed.

Students representing 41 nations of the world participated in the league round of the competition in which 16 nations entered the semi-final round ending up with teams of 4 nations entering the finals. This year, Alpha-SIFE representing India secured the second place among the competitors of the final round including Egypt, Germany and Canada. The panel selected Alpha College projects in Sea Weed, Pulp it and Bovine Bites for the second place.

The Alpha SIFE team's high-impact programs on sea weed cultivation for tsunami-hit fisher-folk and tomato pulping for deprived tomato farmers helped create meaningful and sustainable businesses for livelihood in these communities of the Ramanathapuram and Krishnagiri districts. The immense success of these projects was presented by a team of 5 students Hagini, Mariam Verghese, Prashanth, Mahalakshmi and Suraj from the Alpha Arts & Science College at the SIFE World Cup event, thus earning them the coveted first runners-up place with Egypt being declared winner.

Alpha SIFE team's award winning project was devised for tsunami-hit fisher-folk and deprived tomato farmers in the Thally village of the Krishnagiri district. Close to 300 villagers were benefited from these projects spanning 10 months fetching Rs 35 Lakhs in revenues. Economic opportunities for the people of Thally and Akalamadam were created by teaching them the methodologies involved in sea weed cultivation and tomato pulping, arranging them the required finance through bank loans, and offering them the necessary support at every stage till marketing their products that had finally brought about a marked change in their livelihood.

Mr. N. Vittal, IAS (Retd), Former Central Vigilance Commissioner, Govt. of India and Mr. P.W.C. Davidar IAS, IT Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu were instrumental in the success of Alpha-SIFE team with their valuable consultations and support throughout the project.

Dr. (Mrs.) Grace George, Chairperson, Alpha Group of Institutions commending the exemplary performance of the SIFE India team represented by the Alpha Arts & Science College said, "This achievement is a culmination of the efforts spread over more than 10 months. Backed by a very effective field work experience, Alpha SIFE team has demonstrated not only extraordinary talent of elocution but also communicated to the world the insurmountable spirit of India's young."

The competitions were judged by CEOs and business magnates from some of the world's leading companies which included WalMart, Coca Cola, KPMG, Pepsico, Bayer, HSBC, Henkel and Unilever, to name a few.

The participants of the SIFE World Cup are National Champions from their respective countries, chosen after two rounds of competition in each country. Teams present their community projects to a jury consisting of distinguished business leaders and are evaluated on a set of seven criteria ranging from market economics to sustainability.

In India, Syntel, Inc., a global provider of Information Technology (IT) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) solutions, is into organizing student entrepreneur projects in colleges that would hone the business skills of students to be able to compete in the SIFE World CUP 2009 competition. Alpha-SIFE that has secured third place in the competitions held in the years 2006 and 2008 this year has moved up the ladder to win First runner-up position.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr, Keshav Murugesh, CEO, Syntel Inc. and Chairman, SIFE India said, "This victory is special not just for the Alpha SIFE team who made a significant contribution to the community but more to the thousands of lives they have impacted through their well-executed projects. Every one of the colleges and corporates participating in the SIFE India program are impacting India positively and helping us march towards developed nation status."

About Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE):

SIFE or Students in Free Enterprise is a global organization that is literally changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more than 2000 university campuses in 45 nations. Founded in 1975, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) has grown to become one of the largest collegiate organizations in the world promoting the spirit of free enterprise. SIFE's mission is to provide college and university students the best opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, team work and communication skills thorough learning, practising and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

About SIFE India:

SIFE was initiated in India in May 2003 and has been expanding ever since. SIFE projects are guided by distinguished faculty advisors who help students apply their classroom experiences to develop and implement real-world educational outreach programmes.

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CONTACT DETAILS
Mr. Vijaya Kumar, SIFE Coordinator, Alpha Arts and Science College, SIFE, +91 9444331670, salfreddevaprasad@yahoo.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, MARKETING, EDUCATION, IT, TECHNOLOGY

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