Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar conferred degrees upon 1053 graduates at the 9th Convocation of the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, held on November 30, 2013 at the University campus. Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, Education Minister, Government of the Punjab, was the chief guest on this auspicious occasion.
Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, Rector UMT, Abid H K Shirwani, Director External Affairs, and Aneesa Rahat, Registrar, graced the Convocation with their presence. The Convocation was attended by graduating students and their parents, faculty members, educationists, eminent scholars, representatives of the print and electronic media.
A total of 42 students received various Patron, Rector and sponsor medals on the basis of outstanding academic performance. Tayyibah Naeem, MBA-P graduate, was awarded the Khurram Murad Medal for academic excellence. The Sardar Muhammad Ghalib Medal was awarded to Nida Ali, BS Electrical Engineering graduate while Ayesha Siddique, BS Social Sciences graduate, was awarded the Dr Muhammad Ahmed Medal.
This year UMT awarded PhD degrees in the field of education to Ghulam Mohyuddin and Seema Arif. A special PhD degree in absentia was awarded to Dr Sajjad Karim his untiring efforts to promote good relations between Pakistan and the European Union.
In his welcome address Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, Rector UMT, said that as followers of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we have been mandated to read (iqra). Today, as we celebrate the success of the faculty members and students at the 9th UMT Convocation, we must take time to reflect on the fact that this Convocation is being held at a time when the higher education landscape is changing. The Government looks to higher education for policy making. People and society seek its guidance to solve many issues. Parents look forward to higher education for transforming their children into employable assets. The nation as a whole expects higher education to connect the past with the present and meet challenges of the future. Dr Hasan said that UMT will promote higher education in terms of making it relevant to people, society, government and students.
Giving an overview of academic progress made by UMT, Dr Hasan said that today 7000 students are beign taught by 250 full time faculty members in 150+ disciplines. He said that UMT has set up a campus in Sialkot and this campus is our unique pride. Another campus will be opened in Rahim Yar Khan and will be equipped to teach life sciences, biological and medical sciences.
Dr Hasan added that UMT is committed to globalizing its educational programs and as a testimony to this, a faculty member from Spain has joined us. He said that we are focused on learning through accreditations and UMT business school graduates have been taught by the best accredited regional SAQS accreditation as well as national accreditation.
Rector UMT concluded his address by saying that graduating students must realize that their future depends on their present and what they choose to do now. Their actions today will determine their future. He advised the graduates to create their own worlds and lead their lives to the fullest.
In his brief Convocation Address, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Honorable Governor Punjab, congratulated all the graduating students on entering a new phase in their lives. He said that UMT has taken the right direction under the leadership of Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad and has made tremendous progress on the academic front.
In a lighthearted manner, the Honorable Governor said that British parliamentarians are famous for making long and boring speeches but Rector UMT has just made a long but very meaningful speech. He advised the graduates to focus on hard work and effective time management. He said that time is precious and the only way to succeed in life to make the most of it through sheer hard work.
Sharing his vision for the future, the Governor lamented the fact that 7 million children do not attend school but it is the priority of this government to send these children to school. The other major priority is the provision of clean drinking water in schools. He said that he has written to all government and private universities to provide for water filtration plants so that their students and staff have access to clean drinking water.
Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, Education Minister, Government of the Punjab, appreciated the growing strength of UMT which is now reaching to seven thousand students admitted in more than one hundred disciplines. He acknowledged the pivotal role in promoting higher education in the private sector and it has constantly been seeking new horizon for growth of higher education in the country. He conveyed his heartiest congratulations to the graduating students on behalf of the Punjab Chief Minister.
The Minister added that as graduating students of today getting ready to play their role as managers, administrators, engineers and professionals, the Punjab Government is taking concrete steps to revive the economy, especially the energy sector. He said that the Punjab Government was committed to harnessing the potential of the youth and the huge success of the Punjab Youth Festival bears testimony to this. The participation of 3.3 million youth set up 26 world records and earned Pakistan a place in the Guinness Book.
This year 354 participants graduated from the Dr Hasan Murad School of Management (HSM), 46 from the School of Science and Technology (SST), 194 from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSS&H), 93 from the School of Professional Advancement (SPA), 88 from the School of Commerce and Accountancy (SCA), 40 from School of Textile and Design (STD), and 238 from School of Engineering (SEN).