Pakistan's first liberal arts and sciences varsity's 'co-founders' graduate

Habib University hosts convocation for its first batch of 84 students

KARACHI: Pakistan's first liberal arts and science varsity, Habib University's (HU), first convocation was held on Saturday where 84 students, belonging to BSc (Honors) Social Development and Policy, BE Electrical Engineering and BS Computer Science and BA (Honors) Communication Design were handed their degrees.

The first incoming batch of the varsity are known as the 'co-founders'. The namesake comes from them being the first class of students who took a chance with and trusted a new institution with their higher education.

Since 2014, the co-founders have worked closely with the faculty and staff to create and make HU what it is today - an institution of higher learning that is known for its innovative take on the liberal arts and sciences that encourages diversity, entrepreneurship, and global experiences.

The day thus also marks a momentous occasion for HU as the first time it fulfiled its mission of graduating successful, entrepreneurial and uniquely engaged students.

With 37 female students and 47 male students participating at the convocation, the ceremony started with the recitation of the Quran and the national anthem. The students weren't just invited on stage and handed over degrees, but their achievements, thesis and various assignments were also projected on a big screen via a projector in a video montage.



Starting off the ceremony, HU Chancellor Rafiq M Habib stated, "It gives me immense pleasure to declare the 2018 Habib University Convocation opened."

As the valedictorian of the class of 2018 and winner of the President's Award, graduate Saadia Pathan was invited to speak. Pathan ended her speech saying, "We call ourselves Pakistan's first liberal arts university, but we are not just the first, we are new as well. Being new is far scarier than being first. Buts it is only this adventure that comes with being new that has given us the freedom to be individuals."

She said that the university gave the students much-needed confidence and hoped that HU will, one day, conduct its 50th convocation.

"The founders of HU are visionaries. Courage is needed to share a vision. And it requires trust that we put in them when we applied to HU and they put in us when they took us in as the first batch," she said.

I ask you, just as you trusted us when we stepped in, trust as we step out," she said.

HU President Wasif A Rizvi congratulated the co-founders and remarked, "Today is a day of joy and humble celebration as 84 students will walk as graduates today."



In his advice to the first batch, he spoke of 'the visions of Janice', a concept that looks behind as well as forward.

"The meaning of a liberal arts education is teaching you how to think and subscribing human value to your education, and your education is really the job of a lifetime. I wish you way more than luck - I wish you Yohsin," he said, addressing the students.

Regarding the university's accreditation, he said discussions were in place to secure accreditation with an American institution, while a team of the Higher Education Commission will visit the university soon. He hoped that the university would receive a high rank.

In a singular fashion, the 84 students not only walked on stage to receive their degrees, but introduced themselves through unique videos stating their achievements or thesis projects. Other elements stood out as thoroughly deliberated, such as the name of the institution being transformed as design pattern on the graduation gowns.

The governor and HU patron, Mohammad Zubair, said it was a privilege and honour to attend the first convocation of possibly the best university in Pakistan.

He congratulated and praised the graduates and their parents for "taking a risk and making the biggest contribution to HU and raising such outstanding kids". He then invited the top achievers in the graduating student body to Governor House to recognise their achievements.



The Chancellor's Yohsin Award, the most prestigious award at the institution, was awarded to student Abdul Wahid Khan by the varsity's chancellor. It is given to the graduate who not only maintains excellent grades, but demonstrates the qualities and elements of the university's philosophy of Yohsin through their meta-curricular activities on and off campus, the elements of service, passion, excellence, beauty and respect.

Uzair Ibrahim, a special student, who secured a degree in social development and policy, spoke to Express News and said there was no other university's in Karachi that had ramps for students with disabilities, with Aga Khan University and Habib University being the exceptions.

He said it was shocking that even Karachi's largest university, University of Karachi, had no ramps for persons with disabilities.

He wished that other universities would also follow suit and installed ramps inside campuses to facilitate students.

Ibrahim said he never considered himself to be a special student neither did anyone else in the university treat him as one. He said he wished to be treated just like everyone else.

He wished to be able to focus on his profession rather than his disability.

Ibrahim wants to pursue a Master's degree and dive into the world of journalism.

The chief guest, Babar Ali, was introduced by the HU president, who spoke words of encouragement to the graduating batch.

The commencement was concluded with a performance by the HU choir, a word of thanks from the chancellor and a celebratory throwing of caps.