LAHORE: A total of 512 graduates were awarded degrees at the 20th Convocation of the Beaconhouse National University (BNU) on Saturday.

Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat was the chief guest and Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairperson Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan was the guest of honour.

Members of the board of governors, deans, faculty members, dignitaries, guests, and parents of the graduating students attended the ceremony.

BNU Vice Chancellor Dr Moeed W Yusuf presided over the ceremony and presented the BNU’s annual report. He highlighted the national and international contributions made by BNU faculty, students, and alumni in the passing year. He also delineated BNU’s financial assistance programme that benefited over 800 new intake students alone this year.

This year, a total of 18 gold medals were awarded among the graduates of various degree programmes.

The minister applauded the girls for securing 14 gold medals and also commended other graduates for achieving gold medals for their academic performance.

He praised the efforts of the vice chancellor for offering fully-funded scholarships to over 100 students of Daanish schools at BNU in collaboration with the Chief Minister Punjab’s Honhaar Scholarship Scheme. He also appreciated the university for working closely with Punjab’s education department, through BNU’s School of Education in augmenting the capacities and capabilities of the district education officers and imparting English Proficiency training to over 47,000 students enrolled in government schools across Punjab.

He also commended the VC’s efforts in bringing together fifteen public and private universities in Punjab on a single platform for academic partnership and cooperation.

Mr Hayat also inaugurated the Wall of Honour installation at the BNU to honour its Dean’s Honour List students and National Talent Fellows.

The VC announced the National Talent Fellowship Programme, a fully funded programme for needy and deserving students who had maintained a satisfactory academic record.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2025