KARACHI: Over 2,300 students received their bachelors’ degrees at the 31st convocation of the NED University of Engineering and Technology on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held on the campus where for the first time 19 scholars received doctoral degrees. A total of 961 students were awarded masters’ degrees.

Congratulating the students, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, also the chancellor of public sector universities in the province, appreciated efforts of the faculty members as well as students, particularly girls, for their sincerity and dedication in achieving academic excellence.

“I am delighted to see girls setting standards of excellence in a field that was once considered men’s domain,” the governor noted, adding that the convocation was a day of celebration not only for the students, but also for their teachers.

He also spoke highly of the NED University, describing it as one of the best engineering universities in the country. “Not only is its academic contribution admirable, this institution of higher learning is playing a very productive role in the country’s progress. The students who are passing out today are fortunate that they got the opportunity to study in such a great institution.”

In his remarks, Pro Chancellor of the Engineering and Technologies Universities Syed Zia Abbas Rizvi urged the students not to forget the hard work put in by their parents and teachers.

“As alumni, you should always work for the betterment of the institution that helped you have a professional identity in life,” he observed, while congratulating the vice chancellor and his team.

Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and universities and boards secretary Muhammad Mureed Rahimoon shared that the convocation was a time to celebrate as well as reflect about the past mistakes and the challenges ahead.

In his speech, Vice Chancellor Prof Sarosh Hashmat Lodi said that the university last year had its centenary anniversary.

“The NED University was the first engineering university in 2021 to award PhD degrees to 18 scholars. Today, we feel proud by being the first [engineering] institution of higher learning to grant doctoral degrees to 19 students,” he said.

For the first time, he pointed out, a visually challenged girl student at the university received a bachelor’s degree in linguistics at the university. “Her initiative has opened doors for other differently abled persons who should come forward, explore their potential and be a productive member of the society.”

To students, he said they must never settle for anything less than excellence and never lose heart. “Success always embraces those who know how to rise after a fall,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2022