The 26th convocation of the Aga Khan University (AKU) on Thursday was a special one, as students and faculty celebrated several milestones, including the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the university as well as the silver jubilee of the first graduating batch of its medical college.
The ceremony began with the procession, led by Dr Rafat Jan, director of the midwifery programme at the AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, carrying the university blazon. The graduating students, chief guest Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, AKU President Firoz Rasul and the faculty followed as the university’s age-old processional music, composed by Kabir Roy, blared from the speakers.
The university’s chancellor, His Excellency Prince Karim Aga Khan officially opened the celebrations. In his inaugural speech, His Excellency announced plans to establish seven new professional graduate schools pertaining to liberal arts to add to the university’s existing setup.
A total of 367 degrees were conferred on students, who were dressed in the traditional green and white convocation robes, commonly referred to as Jamiapoashs. They were graduating from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the Medical College, the Institute for Educational Development and the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisation. Seven of the students walked away with doctorates – five in the health sciences and two in education.
Maryam Baqir, who graduated from the AKU’s medical college, summed up the graduates’ feelings in her valedictorian speech. “Let us thank our parents, partners, family members and teachers who enabled us to join the league of individuals who hold the highest principles of medical profession today,” she remarked.
via The torch-bearers: AKU graduates vow to ‘give back’ – The Express Tribune.
Ismailimail 