144 receive degrees in convocation

As many as 125 students received bachelor’s degrees in the disciplines of economics, mass communication and government and public policy. Another batch of 19 students got master of science (MS) in economics degrees at the second convocation of the Nust School of Social Sciences and Humanities on Tuesday.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, he said social sciences played a fundamental role in the progress of any country and that Pakistan also needed to benefit from these disciplines through their promotion in higher education.

Quoting one of his professors at Harvard University from where he graduated in 1963, Mr Aziz said attention must be focused on education and research in social sciences as they held promise for the multifarious development of a country.

Earlier, the chief guest awarded the President’s Gold Medals and three Chancellor’s Silver Medals to students having outstanding academic achievements.

Ayesha Amjad Qaisrani won the gold medal in MS Economics, Hira Nisar Khan in Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics and Amina Mazhar in BS Mass Communication.

Mishaal Mariam Khan received a silver medal in Bachelor of Public Administration, Alishba Rasheed in BS Economics and Sundus Zafar in BS Mass Communication.

The Best Teacher Award for the year 2015 was given to Saeeda Batool of the Economics Department while Assistant Professor Dr Faisal Jamil was conferred the Best Researcher Award for 2015.

Rector Nust Engineer Mohammad Asghar said the institute was among the top 400 engineering universities and top 100 young universities in the world.

IIUI, Riphah to host Afro-Asian universities

For the promotion of Arabic language, the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and Riphah International University are all set to host a meeting of the Afro-Asian Islamic universities in May this year.

Both the universities on Thursday discussed bilateral cooperation for organising the meeting of the universities.

During the meeting, which was chaired by President IIUI Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh, and Dr Anis Ahmed, the VC Riphah, a special committee was formed comprising members from both the institutes, to explore more avenues of cooperation.

“The IIUI will seek cooperation for the meeting from ISESCO under the supervision of Muslim World League while the Higher Education Commission has also assured of all possible support,” said Dr Al-Draiweesh.

He said he had also sent proposals regarding the meeting of the universities to the secretary general Muslim World League, Dr Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki.

IIUI spokesman Dr Hafiz Abid Masood told Dawn that the main theme of the meeting would be how to teach Arabic language to non-Arabs.

He said the IIUI, Riphah International University, Chittagong Islamic University, International Islamic University Malaysia, International Islamic University Uganda, Chad King Faisal University, Russian Islamic University and other educational institutions would participate in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2016