KARACHI: The 28th convocation of the NED University of Engineering & Technology was held on Saturday, presided over by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail.

Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage Shafqat Mahmood was the chief guest of the ceremony. Addressing on the occasion, he encouraged all graduating students to go ahead with their dreams because in “the new Pakistan” qualified engineers would find enough space for emerging job opportunities, especially in the private sector.

“It is encouraging to know that 40 per cent of the total graduates are female engineers,” he added.

Sharing the government’s vision and policy on education, the federal minister disclosed a three-pronged strategy of the HEC (Higher Education Commission). He said that access to higher education was the right of every citizen and the government was decentralising it at district level to make it accessible to youth.

“Unfortunately, our education policy had not focused on relevance between job market and education in the past. As [a] result, institutions suffered from bad governance and bulk of youth couldn’t find jobs. Our government is making education market- and job-oriented as well [as] establishing new academic campuses for emerging sciences.”

He emphasised the need for quality education and advised the university and the HEC to focus on development of teaching faculty and curriculum.

Minister Mahmood congratulated the VC of the NED and faculty on producing the best lot of engineers in the country as well as abroad. He assured them of full government support.

In his welcome speech, Vice Chancellor Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi said that a sizable number of NED graduates had stepped into job markets within and outside the country. He urged the government, business community and philanthropists to extend financial assistance to the university.

“The NED is spending Rs227,000 per student annually to maintain quality education,” he added.

A total of 2,007 candidates received degrees in different engineering disciplines.

Thirteen PhD degrees were awarded in the fields of electronic engineering, architecture, textile engineering and computer science and information technology.

A total of 169 master’s degrees were awarded and 1,825 students were given bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, architecture, computer science and IT and many more fields.

Chairman of Pakistan Engineering Council Engr Jawed Salim Qureshi also attended the event as the guest of honour.

Mr Mahmood and Mr Qureshi awarded gold medals among the toppers.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2019