Vigilant Global donates $20,000 for Computer Science and Software Engineering graduate scholarships

In just four years, Montreal-based financial technology firm Vigilant Global has grown from three employees to about 50. At a reception December 1, 2009, at Concordia University's Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Complex, Vigilant Global co-founder Arvind Ramanathan, BComm 01, reported that about 25 percent of the company's employees are Concordia computer science graduates. "Financial markets are looking for people like you," Ramanathan said to the 25 computer science students on hand.

Vigilant Global co-founders Arvind Ramanathan and Josh Felker and Eoin Craigie, industry analyst at Vigilant Global (front row, from left to right), with Concordia Engineering and Computer Science students

Ramanathan announced a gift of $20,000 from Vigilant Global to support Concordia's Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. The donation will fund annual graduate scholarships--worth $1,000--for international students. He said he was proud to be able to give back to the university that helped him launch his career. "I had a great time at Concordia, a wonderful experience," Ramanathan said.

Engineering and Computer Science Dean Robin Drew said the gift was timely because international students make up about one third of the faculty's graduate-level enrolment. "The gift will help increase our credibility and help us attract high calibre students," Drew said.

Sudhir Mudur, chair of Concordia's Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, said the department is home to about 1,350 students, making it one of the largest computer science departments in Canada. Mudur expressed his gratitude for the gift and Vigilant Global's eagerness to hire Concordia graduates. "Our students sometimes question if what we're teaching them will help them in the future. It's good to know that we're not doing much wrong," Mudur quipped.