SZABIST bids farewells to its fourth batch on a ‘journey to progress’
522 graduates awarded doctorate and master’s degrees.
ISLAMABAD:
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
This was stated by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, quoting American futurologist Alvin Toffler, while addressing the fourth convocation of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) on Saturday.
A total of 522 graduates were awarded doctorate and master’s degrees in various disciplines, including business, and information technology, while 20 high achievers were awarded gold medals.
In her address, Fehmida said that the present century is dedicated to knowledge and the focus of studies is shifting from growth-oriented factors of production to human, intellectual, and psychological capitals. All this cannot happen without creating and transforming the requisite knowledge into organisational ecologies that are embedded with advanced knowledge management systems, she added.
“In today’s global interdependent environment, universities and higher educational institutions are under a tremendous pressure to play a more responsible role for developing tomorrow’s leaders. Educational institutes are hence required to play the most powerful role in knowledge creation and dissemination for a wider array of stakeholders,” she said. Mirza said the contribution of these institutes is an ever-evolving source of prosperity and improved standards of living.
The speaker said that the 21st century dictates multiple challenges to universities worldwide. Today, the modern academe as a seat of learning, innovation and research has a more responsible role to play with a variety of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches, while matching the growing needs of the society and industry, she added.
Mirza noted that Pakistan spends only 1.7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education, which is insufficient to be able to survive and thrive in the global business environment. If we take the case of our neighbours, Bangladesh and India, they are spending much higher that we do on education and especially on higher education, she maintained.
Earlier, SZABIST Chancellor Dr Izra Fazal Pechuho congratulated the graduates on successfully completing their respective degree courses and announced that the SZABIST will soon be give the status of a federal university.
Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javed Akhter stressed the importance of linkages between academia, industries and communities in achieving socio-economic targets.
Director SZABIST, Dr Saqib Naqvi said that education is must to build a peaceful, progressive and prosperous nation and SZABIST is playing a significant role in “this journey to progress”.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2012.
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
This was stated by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, quoting American futurologist Alvin Toffler, while addressing the fourth convocation of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) on Saturday.
A total of 522 graduates were awarded doctorate and master’s degrees in various disciplines, including business, and information technology, while 20 high achievers were awarded gold medals.
In her address, Fehmida said that the present century is dedicated to knowledge and the focus of studies is shifting from growth-oriented factors of production to human, intellectual, and psychological capitals. All this cannot happen without creating and transforming the requisite knowledge into organisational ecologies that are embedded with advanced knowledge management systems, she added.
“In today’s global interdependent environment, universities and higher educational institutions are under a tremendous pressure to play a more responsible role for developing tomorrow’s leaders. Educational institutes are hence required to play the most powerful role in knowledge creation and dissemination for a wider array of stakeholders,” she said. Mirza said the contribution of these institutes is an ever-evolving source of prosperity and improved standards of living.
The speaker said that the 21st century dictates multiple challenges to universities worldwide. Today, the modern academe as a seat of learning, innovation and research has a more responsible role to play with a variety of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches, while matching the growing needs of the society and industry, she added.
Mirza noted that Pakistan spends only 1.7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education, which is insufficient to be able to survive and thrive in the global business environment. If we take the case of our neighbours, Bangladesh and India, they are spending much higher that we do on education and especially on higher education, she maintained.
Earlier, SZABIST Chancellor Dr Izra Fazal Pechuho congratulated the graduates on successfully completing their respective degree courses and announced that the SZABIST will soon be give the status of a federal university.
Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javed Akhter stressed the importance of linkages between academia, industries and communities in achieving socio-economic targets.
Director SZABIST, Dr Saqib Naqvi said that education is must to build a peaceful, progressive and prosperous nation and SZABIST is playing a significant role in “this journey to progress”.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2012.