GCU convocation: ‘We have stood out for promoting tolerance’

27 gold medals awarded; 10 included in the Roll of Honour for sports.

LAHORE:

As many as 1,400 students were conferred degrees at the 11th convocation of the Government College University on Thursday.

The ceremony was held at GCU’s Oval ground. Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood was expected to confer degrees but could not make it on Thursday leaving the task to Vice Chancellor Dr Khaleequr Rehman.

Rehman said the budget allocated to government sector educational institutions needed to be doubled.

He said the governments should allocate 4 per cent of the GDP for education in the next budget.

“Democracy would fail to deliver effectively in the country if investment is not made in education.” He said, “In the next 10 years we want to see GCU ranked amongst the best universities in the world.”

Rehman said 130 GCU debaters and 10 athletes had won awards last year in various competitions.

He claimed that the university had signed 29 agreements with various industries and research institutions to strengthen academic and industry linkages.



Rehman said that the GCU had always stood out for its rich diversity of students and for promoting tolerance.

Fifty-seven students were conferred doctorate degrees. Ten students were included in the Roll of Honour for sports and 20 for outstanding performance in other co-curricular activities.

Madeeha Ahmed got the top position in biotechnology, Sidra Tariq in chemistry, Ajmal Ismail in computer sciences, Fatima Saeed in English, Hira Tanweer in business administration, and Bilal Azam in applied management.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2013.