1318 students awarded degrees, 21 given gold medals in University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi:A total of 1,318 students of seven faculties were awarded degrees in undergraduate, masters, M.Phil and PhD courses, while 21 students, who topped the examinations in their respective disciplines, were given gold medals at 10th annual convocation of the University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi (UAAR) here on Wednesday.
A written message of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who is chancellor of the university, was read out on the occasion.
The governor in his message said the government is fully cognizant to the situation and has been making all out efforts to strengthen and promote higher education and research in the country.
It is axiomatic that research in agriculture must be accorded the top most priority to address the challenges posed by global concerns and food security, he said.
UAAR vice chancellor Dr Khalid Mehmood Khan while speaking on the occasion as a chief guest said sudden financial cuts in the funds pledged by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) can badly affect the ongoing projects aimed at providing modern educational facilities to the students.
It is a matter of much concern that development funds worth Rs215 million approved from the Chancellors Block Allocation are not being provided as we have not received even a single penny since almost a year, he said.
With the changing environment in scientific and technological advancements concerning all the disciplines, he said, the researchers would continue their march in the forward and attain the brilliance to match the highest level of competence.
Outlining the educational achievements of the university, he said some 19 students completed their PhD courses last year, which is an ever increasing number in the span of one year.
The research projects for these PhDs were carried out on indigenous researchable issues especially in the developed countries, he said.
Dr Khalid Mehmood said the university held 16 seminars last year, which were largely participated by local and foreign experts. To develop linkage with world renowned universities we have been regularly signing MoU and till today we have 15 universities on board.
He said 182 research papers by the faculty members were published in local and foreign journals, providing better insight into the field of agriculture in the country.
According to the information handed out on the occasion a quality enhancement cell has been established to review standard of teaching and learning in each subject area, promote public confidence, and develop qualification framework and quality assurance processes.
A placement bureau set up some time back is engaged in providing counselling to the students besides establishing a linkage among the students, prospective employers and scholarships benefactor agencies.
Those who were awarded gold medals included Mehwish Ali (BSc Hons.), Bina Saleem (BEd), Khaizran Zahra (BEd), Rashid Hussain (UIIT), Tanvir Abbas (BIIT), Adeela Khalid (MSc) Mahjabeen Tariq (MSc) Rumana Kiyani (MSc), Imrana Begum (M.Phil), Mehmoona Ilyas (M.Phil), Nisar Ahmad (M.Phil), Zaheer Abbas (MSc), Romana Shahzad (MSc), Shaista Bibi (MSc), Tahira Hashmi (MEd), Samar Islam ( MBA), Waseem Afzal (MBA), Muhammad Aurangzeb ( MBA), Khalid Mehmood (MBA), Muhammad Ilyas (MCS) and Abdul Rahim (MCS).
