Is Dubai on the visit list of new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella?

Will Microsoft’s new CEO Satya Nadella visit Dubai this March? At least the Manipal University in the emirate hopes so.

University officials are preparing for its first alumni celebrations next month and are co-ordinating with its headquarters in India to ensure that Nadella gets an invitation.

“We know he has just taken over as the CEO and could be very busy, but we are hopeful that he would be able to visit our campus,” says Ravi Panchanadan CEO, MEA at Maniplal Global Education Services.

“In fact, he is a proud ambassador of Manipal and the students and faculty across all our centres are awaiting a visit from him,” he added.

Microsoft’s Bill Gates has been a frequent visitor to Dubai while former CEO Steve Ballmer has also been to the region on several occasions.

Nadella was a student of Manipal Institute of Technology in Udupi, Karnataka, India, between 1984 and 1988.

“There is a lot of buzz around the campus here in the UAE and the overall Manipal community across the world. We are proud of the fact that somebody from Manipal Institute of Technology has reached such a high level. There was a perception both in India and abroad that only those from the IITs could do it,” says Panchanadan.

According to him, the facilities at the Manipal campus in the UAE are as good or better than that in India. We have some of the most modern and latest lab equipment here in the campus,” he said.

Dr S. Kota Reddy Academic President at the Manipal campus in Dubai said the students at the Dubai campus are hopeful that one day they will be able to interact face to face with Nadella.

“It has really inspired all of them to aim big,” he added.

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