Caps in the air: 37 PhD scholars conferred degrees at UET’s convocation

‘The varsity’s contribution to academia has placed it in the top universities of Asia’.

LAHORE:

As many as 37 PhD scholars were conferred degrees at the 21st convocation of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) on Tuesday.

Apart from the 3,715 degrees conferred on the occasion, a total of 114 gold medals were also awarded to high achievers.

“It is incumbent on every citizen to play their due role in national development,” Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Mukhtar Ahmed said on Tuesday.

Ahmed said that the nation had produced 4,000 PhD scholars since its inception. He said the achievement had to be credited to the UET and its faculty whose invaluable services to education had made this achievement possible.



Ahmed said every citizen should work hard to foster social progress rather than focusing efforts solely on improving their own lot. He said this was imperative due to the pressing nature of challenges confronting the nation.

Ahmed expressed hope that the varsity’s alumni would become productive members in their chosen fields and bring glory to the UET and the nation.

He said that the institution had been making a noted contribution to academia. Ahmed said it was due to this that that the varsity was counted among the best universities in Asia.

Vice Chancellor Fazal Ahmad Khalid said that higher education was pivotal for national development. He said the UET had played a prominent role in this regard and had furthered progress in the education and research sectors. Khalid said the federal and the provincial government had been extending all out support to the education sector. He praised the government for especially supporting research projects.

Khalid said the varsity had been promoting academia-industry linkages to facilitate students. He said that the UET had successfully collaborated with select Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE with regard to the establishment of joint training facilities worth Rs700 million at the university. Khalid said the challenges of capacity building, infrastructure and quality still confronted universities in the country despite an annual increase in enrolment.

Scores of students, alumni and faculty members were also present at the convocation.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2015.