St Joseph's University, 36, Lalbagh Road, Bengaluru-560027, Karnataka, India.
Logo
A Public-Private-Partnership University under RUSA 2.0 of MHRD (Government of India), established by the Karnataka Govt. Act No. 24 of 2021
inner banner

AICUF

Introduction About us

 

“AICUF (All India Catholic University Federation) is a movement of university student with a vision for a new and just society. Progressing in a history of constant re-discovery and re- creation. AICUF ever tries to link itself to the emerging needs and realities of the university, the church and the wider society”

 

About Us
Objective

 

Objectives

 

  • To help students evolve spirituality that has humanization as its core, through involvement and reflection.
  • To motivate students to become involved in studies, research and activities within the university.
  • To enable Christian students to play a prophetic role in their communities through a critical understanding of their faith, drawing inspiration from the Gospels, the Eucharist and their prayer life

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE AICUF ASSOCIATION

All India Catholic University Federation is a movement of university students with a vision for a new and just society.

Fr. Carty SJ is the Founder of AICUF 1924

• Catholic Young Man Guild (CYMG) and Its humble Commencing at St.Joseph’s College, Trichy.

• Fr. Carty, S. J. guided this CYMG

• A Magazine ‘The Rally’ was started.

1929

Catholic Young Men Federation (CYMF) The CYMG and the MYCL (Malabar Catholic Youth League Founded by Fr. Honore, S. J. in 1915) federated to form the CYMF.

1937

The birth of South India Catholic University Federation (SICUF) It was created after the model of PAX ROMANA (IMCS – International Movement of Catholic Students).

1944

SICUF The new man association and catholic students union was formed.

1952

The New National Director Fr. Ceyrac S who gave a new stand to AICUF. In the same year December, the first AICUF national congress held in Madras with the theme “Unity”. Over 2700 delegates from all over participated.

1953

The first national leadership program was held in Mysore.

1954

National Secretariat shifted from Trichy to Loyola College, Chennai.

1955

First AICUF Constitution - CSU Constitution The Federation was divided into 9 Regions The First SOCIAL WORK CAMP was held.

1956

The Second National Congress was held in Bangalore with its theme, “Towards a Better World”.2800 delegates attended the congress.

1958

The Third National Congress was held in Bombay.2500 delegates attended the Congress.The theme was “Problems of Student Milieu” as its theme.

1961

Fourth National Congress was held in Ernakulum. 3000 delegates attended the Congress.“Students and Social Justice “was the theme.

1965

First National Convention in Madras.The theme was “National Responsibility and Commitment”.

1967

Fr. Lawrence Colaco, S.J., was appointed National Director of AlCUF. The Present National Secretariat AICUF House was acquired.The Constitution was revised and Federation was divided into 14 Regions.

1968

Second National Convention in Madras with theme “The India we want”.

1970
May

The First National Consultation in Bangalore initiated the new orientation by a through study of AlCUF's function and role in the society.

1970
June

Fr. Claude D’ Souza. S.J. was appointed National Director of AICUF. Two ex-AICUF-ers joined the National Team as Full-Timers.

1970
December    

National seminar on 'Marxism and Christianity' was held at Poonamallee, Madras.Poonamallee declaration "We were born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it"

1972
August
  • Project Know India (PKI) was born, when the central committee members made a critical evaluation of the AICUF Programmes.
  • National Seminar on “Egalitarian Society” by the students involved in the PKI
  • In order to evoke greater theological reflection on the historical situation of man and society and to elicit deeper motivation to strive for human freedom, training sessions for advisors were introduced.

1973

National documentation centre was started.

1974

Serendipity sessions were started for grasping the Gospel values through the discovery method at individual and group levels.

1977
July

The AICUF Documentation Service began sending relevant cyclostyled materials on a regular basis to the advisors and others interested in Christian reflection and social change.

1979
July

The Central Committee members spelt out the new vision and the main Thrust of the movement.

1982
January

The Second National Consultation, held in Madras is an important landmark in the history of AICUF. The fruit of the deliberation was the ‘Mylapore Minutes’. “Back to the Campus” and “University to the masses” were the slogans that reflect the spirit of the consultation.

1985
July

Constituting a constitution commission in July 1985, “to explore the various aspects of constitutional changes and to initiate the process of evolving a new constitution”.

1988
June

The Third National Consultation of AICUF was held at Loyola College, Madras.

1988
August

The CCM unanimously accepted most of the recommendations of the consultations to prepare a fresh draft incorporating all the insights of the National Consultation.

1989 June
June

In the Third National Convention the student representatives approved the Draft constitution prepared by the commission.

1989
  • The First National Council.Dalits, Tribals and Women were chosen at the target people.

1989
  • 3rd National Convention from 14-17, June 1989. Theme: “The new AICUF constitution”

    CHALLENGES FACED AFTER 1989

    • New Constitution
    • New Federal Set up
    • New National Adviser
    • Commercialised Education
    • Communalised and criminalised atmosphere
    • Student Movements, attending to localised issues
    • Arrival of first-generation students from Adivasi, Dalit and Women sections
    • Globalisation
    • Communalism and Fundamentalism
    • Forms of Resistance and Rebuilding from the vulnerable groups.

1990
  • Commencement of Regular National councils
  • Summer Programmes
  • National Council from 25-29, August 1990.
  • State Policy Documents
  • All Gujarat Student Development Movement (AGSDM) got affiliated to AICUF
  • Andhra Pradesh AICUF was banned.
  • AICUF President of Orissa Mr. Pradeep Kindo was killed
  • First Women’s Workshop in T.N. Conducted

1991
  • Student Organisation for Social Action (SOSA) was born in Andhra Pradesh, in the place of AICUF

1992

Bangalore Catholic Student Association (BACSA) was started

  • Attempts to revive Goa AICUF.
  • National Seminar on Communalism, Chennai.

1993
  • Ex-AICUFers Convention
  • ‘Our Response To The Emerging Scene’
  • National Seminar on Communalism,Bangalore.
  • 5th National Council from 12-15, August 1993.‘The Challenges before AICUF Today’

1994
  • 4 th National Consultation - cum – Council from 12-15, August 1994
  • Birth of Adivasi Yuva Chetna Munch and National Dalit and women forums
  • Assessment of Five Years.
  • Forums / Commissions were born
  • National Full-timer was appointed
  • Bihar was divided into North Bihar (Dalits Predominantly) and South Bihar (Tribal)

1995
  • National Dalit Student Consultation at Ennore, Chennai
  • Youth Festival in AICUF Ashram, Bhopal
  • National Workshop on Human Rights
  • National Council from 12-15 August 1995
  • Theme: Youth and Students of India – Their Trends and Challenges.

1996
  • 8th National Council from 15th-18th, August 1996

Theme: Youth & Politics, Youth & Media

  • New National Adviser Fr. K. Amal, SJ, succeeds Fr. Manu SJ.
  • A lot of revivals Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and the Tribal States
  • A lot of challenges Bihar, North East and Non- AICUF States.
  • Adivasi Yuva Chetna Manch - Policy Document was finalised.

1997
  • National Summer Programmes with Exposure Camps
  • National Seminars on Major Issues – Commercialisation of Education, Globalisation
  • Communalism and Fundamentalism
  • AICUF was revived in Maharashtra
  • 9th National Council from 14 – 17, August 1997

Theme: Fifty Years of Independent India

1989
  • National Consultation - Cum – Council from August 13 – 16, 1998

Theme: Globalisation and Communalism

  • Change in DC Team
  • Regularized Rally - Student News as a Supplement of Rally.
  • AICUF was revived in Andhra Pradesh.

1999
  • National Convention on June 9-12, 1999.

Theme: Marching with the Marginalised

  • Amendments in Constitution 1989 Interim Council
  • RSA (Refugee Students’ Association) was born.

2000
  • The 12th National Council on 28- 31, August 2000
  • Theme: University Students of Today - Are We Awakened?

2001
  • 13th National Council during 12- 15, August 2001

Theme: University Students Let’s be Conscientious and be Sensitive to the marginalised.

2002
  • The 14th National Council during 15th – 18th August 2002

Theme: University Students – Let’s Search to Know, Realise and Assert Our Rights. National

  • Summer Programme on Student Rights are Human Rights, Chennai.

2003
  • 15th National Council during 14th – 17th August 2003

Theme: “Let us Unite and Assert Our Rights, To Evolve Alternatives towards a Just Society”.

  • Participated in ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM, Hyderabad
  • Fr. Henry Jerome, SJ succeeds Fr. K. Amal, SJ.

2004
  • First National Women’s Convention to be held in December at Gujarat (29th December 2004 – 1st January 2005).
  • Participated in WORLD SOCIAL FORUM, Mumbai
  • All States
  • Training in Theatre
  • Awareness Programmes
  • Protests
  • Youth Convention
  • Leadership and Personality Development
  • Journalism Seminar
  • 16th National Council and 80th year celebration of AICUF from 13th- 16th August 2004.

Theme: “Dreaming and struggling together...Stepping into the 80th Year...Sensitising Students for a Just World...”

2005
  • 17th National Council during 11- 14, August 2005 on “AICUF Calls: Analyse, Assess, and Intervene to Humanise the World”
  • West Bengal AICUF gave birth to Dumka.
  • Dumka was affiliated as a new state into AICUF.

2006
  • 18th National Council from 12th – 15th, August 2006 on the theme “University Students: Experience, Reflect and Act; Challenging and Annihilating the Inhuman Context, Evolving the Just Society”.
  • The 18th AICUF National Council, has got a historical significance as it is the first National Council to be held outside Tamil Nadu, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Delhi AICUF is now owned by Jesuit theologians of Vidya Jyothi, the Jesuit theologian in the capital.
  • First National Dalit Students Convention from May 30, 2006 to June 2, 2006 at St. Patrick’s High School campus, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

2007
  • 19th National Council from 11-14, August 2007 on the theme was “Revitalising the power of University students to be with the struggles and hopes of the marginalised and to become an Empowered Civil Society”.
  • The Council was decided that AICUF had to organise the 5th National Convention.First National AYCM (Adivasi Yuva Chetan Manch) Convention held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

2008
  • 20th AICUF National Council from 13- 16, August 2008 on the theme was “Reclaiming Student Activism, Becoming Seeds of Resistance, University Students Resolve to be the Vanguard of the Emerging civil society”

2009
  • The 6th National Consultation and 21st National Council from 12th - 15th Aug 2010.Towards 5th National Convention.

2010
  • 5th National Convention – June 3rd to June 6th 2010, at Loyola College campus, Chennai. “Students, to Act and to be Political”.
  • Mid-Council – 13 – 15th August 2010.
  • New National Adviser Fr. M. G. Selvin Raj, S.J, succeeds Fr. Henry Jerome S.J.

2011-12
  • Karnataka organised AICUF State Congress for the first time in its history in which 400 students from various AICUF units participated.The National Secretariat organised State Full- timers Meet on September 1st and 2nd, 2011.

2012-13
  • 24th AICUF National Council in Chennai from 13th to 17th August, 2012. The members approved and ratified the Karnataka State Policy Document during the National Council.
  • The Karnataka AICUF State Meet-2012 was organised in Mangalore from 8th to 10th December on the theme, “Unite to Ignite New Hope”.Four National Summer camps were organised in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Pune and Gujarat respectively.

2013 ONWARDS SOME CONCERNS
  • The Boom in IT Industry –changed the behaviour pattern, Life style & thinking pattern of youngsters
  • Unexpected growth in Mobile networks changed the young minds and communication network
  • Careerism overtook Social concern among students and parents
  • Shrinking of space in Civil Society becomes very visible during this era
  • Youth are at Cross-Roads – Growing literacy but equally growing unemployment, Mobile connectivity & various social media boom but loneliness, lack of love in the world and divisions of all kinds, Covid & its impact in the world etc....
  • AICUF is at the Cross-road – Need to sail through rough waters as we March towards Centenary and beyond.....

CHANGE IN FUNCTIONING STYLE in New Millennium

  •  During this period -More Collaboration with Global International Movements & Bodies with similar ideologies and Principles
  •  AICUFers took part in programmes organised by IMCS,(International Movement For Catholic Students), SAPI (South Asian People’s Initiatives), WSF (World Social Forum), WYD (World Youth Day) and so on
  • National Councils, Summer Camps and Commission Programmes were given importance.
  •  Student Centrality was stressed as always which was and is the core of AICUF movement.
  •  Student issues and common social issues were discussed & deliberated critically But there seems to be hesitancy in plunging into action as the socio-economic-political scenario kept changing.
  •  Training Programmes reduced......Financial Constraints came in.
  • National councils in AICUF is the time to review the Unit, Regional, State, and National level AICUF programs and activities, to introspect and clarify from each other about the movement, to evaluate the activities in the light of clarity of the option and relevance of the context.
  • Every year new members join the council and bring newness and freshness.
  • The new leaders come to listen, share views, analyse, deliberate and decide for the Federation, ratifying important steps of the states, reinforcing the constitution and meaningful traditions and experiments.
  • National Councils are held every year from the 12th to the 15th of August .
  • Only exception is when there is mid-term Consultation or Convention coming the dates may differ otherwise more or less the dates are fixed.Covid changed our normal life and the programmes.
  • We are trying to revive our normalcy in AICUF in this new normal.

Training Programmes conducted

  •  Training Programmes for the Advisors and Animators
  •  Training Workshops for AICUF Full –Timers
  • Understanding AICUF Constitution through in-depth-study and awareness sessions for AICUFers.
  •  Regular sharing and training of National Team members and even National Council members • Inter-commission programs etc... National Training Programs Training is the Centre of AICUF Of all the trainings, AICUF considered the following three training programs as important to the movement’s growth- • Training for National Advisers and Animators
  • Training for National level Full- timers
  •  Training for National Team Members Commissions
  •  COMMISSIONS started functioning actively in different states and Conventions happened
  •  Different Commissions which are functioning in different states are :- –Dalit Commission –Women Commission –Adivasi Commission –Refugee Commission –Ecology, Peace & Reconciliation Commission AICUF continues its journey with its own ups and down.
  • It needs to be cared, nurtured, even pruned to make it grow bigger and Make a difference in the lives of AICUFers and in Society...... There is a Long way to go before we rest. p to the AICUF motto - “We are born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it”.

The Council of the Year 2023-24 is as follows

SL No. Name  Role
1. Noel Chris President
2. Neha Maria Robin Vice President
3. Jennifer Tessy Vice President
4. Sharon Sebastin Secretary
4. A Carlton Britto Joint Secretary
5. Alwin Anthony A L Cultural Secretary
6. Dino C D Treasurer
7. Diyo C D Media Head
8. Dravid A Outreach Coordinator
9. Saranyaa M V Science Representative
10. Jovita M Nongbet Humanities Representative
12. Poornima D Kanti Commerce Representative
13. Akash Melvin Extended Council Member
14. Sam Nongkynrih Executive Council Member

There are about 500 volunteers in AICUF  from St Joseph’s University. All these members take part in the events conducted by the AICUF. We all are known as AICUFers.

 

Regular Events conducted in AICUF

  • LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

AICUF mainly focuses on certain area of leadership development for students such asdalit politics, communism, fight for marginalized people, women empowerment, transgender empowerment, road safety, awareness on flood safety and role of youth in politics.

  • Orphanage visit

Aicuf takes initiative of insisting social responsibility in the Students. One way in which this is done by arranging regular visit to ashrams, Homes and orphanages encouraging the students to interact regularly with Residents and carrying out various activities and having interactive sessions with them.

  • Rural camps

The main objective of conducting rural camps areto create a platform for the students to understand and analyze the Rural Social System, Strategies used by the Non-Governmental Agencies, Nature of Government Intervention for the development of poor people, and to facilitate students experiences of group living.

  • Essay and drawing competition

This is one form of expressing by the students on a current social issue or problem to get the creative ideas and the thought of students to give a platform to express.

  • Awareness program.

To increase the knowledge of the students on various current social issues and many other informative sessions to the students.

  • Rallies

Students are encouraged to go on rallies to support a social causein order to show support and spread awareness.

  • Stationary drive

Collect stationary from the students and donate it to the orphanage kids who are not able to afford them.

  • Regular meetings with Aicufer’s

The main objective of this meeting is to let the Aicufer’s know what is going in the council and future plans.

  • Camps

Here the state organises camps so all the units in the state come together to learn and get to know each other. Help the students in team building and exposure to other places.

Achievements

  • We represented our college in an inter collegiate gospel fest conducted by Mount Carmel College and our participants who represented SJU won in many events.
  • We conducted an outreach to Vidyaranya orphanage which was another great success
  • We also gave our best to the working of Exodus, an inter collage fest conducted by SJU
  • We have our council member Ms. Rashmi representing the entire college in the state as the Nation Team Member and the Co-Convener.
  • SJU have won in the sports meet conducted by AICUF Karnataka
  • We also had an outreach to  St. Patrick’s boys home in St. Patrick’s church

Testimony of Students

 

  • AICUF - All India Catholic University Federation, is a movement of university students with a vision for a new and just society. Progressing in a history of constant rediscovery and re- creation, the AICUF ever tries to link itself to the emerging needs and realities of the University, the Church and wider society. The AICUF is affiliated to PAX ROMANA – the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS).  It was represented Maharashtra and India at several national and international level programs for university students, including the International Council of the IMCS.
  • Every year the AICUF takes charge of the Eucharistic celebrations for the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier. The annual women’s empowerment initiative ‘Ujali’ is a combination of talks, panel discussions, debates, poetry sessions and creative activity-based awareness sessions. The annual YES (Youth Encounter Sessions) camps are an opportunity for personality development and socio-cultural awareness. Tutoring underprivileged children and conducting workshops for them are part of social outreach. Besides these regular annual activities, there are many other activities that the AICUF organizes for students. We look forward to being of continual service to the college and to society, especially to those who are marginalized and discriminated against.
  • AICUF - All India Catholic University Federation, is a movement of university students with a vision for a new and just society. Progressing in a history of constant rediscovery and re- creation, the AICUF ever tries to link itself to the emerging needs and realities of the University.
  • It organizes various activities keeping 3 objectives in mind - Social Outreach, Personality Development and Spiritual Growth. These activities include camps, retreats, hikes, exposure visits, exhibitions, seminars, webinars, rallies and campaigns. The AICUF aims to respond to various social and societal issues, especially those where inequality and injustice are rampant. Social justice and reconciliation is the basis of all AICUF activities. It includes social awareness, social service and social outreach. Our aim is to live up to the AICUF motto - “We are born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it”.

 

All rights reserved © 2023 St Joseph's University, Bengaluru

Website Powered by Cloud Business Pages from INI Technologies Pvt Ltd., India, Kochi