The President of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, awarded degrees and medals to the graduating students of the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), during its 52nd Convocation held on September 20, 2013, in Islamabad. Standing at No. 3 among 132 higher education institutions in terms of research productivity according to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, CIIT is one of the fastest growing academic institutions in the country. Established in 1998, CIIT offers a wide range of academic programmes through 86 graduate and post graduate degrees.
Over 600 successful students secured BS, and MS degrees in disciplines of Bioinformatics, Biosciences, Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Electrical (Telecommunication and Computer) Engineering, Electronics, Mathematics and Architecture. Also, Ph.D degrees were awarded to 15 students in Faculty of Sciences – Physics, Bio Sciences and Mathematics.
Addressing the gathering of students, faculty members and parents of the students attending the ceremony, the President, who is also the Patron of CIIT, emphasized the need for greater investment in higher education, particularly science and technology, to meet the present day challenges. He believed that science and technology has become a driving force for economic activity and innovation in the world. “We will also have to invest heavily in this sector to compete with the modern world”, stated the President. He urged the academic institutions to develop their curricula according to the market requirements. He considered linkages between industry and academic institutions very important for the students to help them explore their talent in their respective fields. He advised the young generation to play their role in nation building and work with honesty and dedication for the betterment of the society.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chancellor of CIIT, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, Mr. Zahid Hamid, stated that knowledge acquisition and higher education are virtually transforming every aspect of today’s world. IT institutions have been trusted to be the centre stage of academia, with a mandate to evolve a knowledge-based socio-economic culture in the country to help the nation to face the modern challenges of globalization, he added. The Minister appreciated the efforts of the faculty, management and visionary leadership of CIIT and stated that the Institute is committed to provide the best opportunities for learning and personal development within a caring and supportive environment. Addressing the graduating students‚ the Minister said that the youth are the future leaders and builders of the country and hoped that they will fully utilize their knowledge to live up to the expectations of the nation.
The Rector CIIT, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, presented the Institute Report covering in detail the programmes and accomplishments of the Institute over the years. The Report also highlighted the research activities, national and international collaborations, and current and future academic programmes.
The Secretary Ministry for Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, Mr. Kamran Ali Qureshi, and the Chairman Board of Governors of CIIT, Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, also attended the ceremony.
‘Chancellor’s medal’, ‘Institute medal’ and ‘Campus medal’, as well as certificates were awarded to the distinction holders. Moreover, ‘Dr. Q.K. Ghori Award’ and ‘Professor Kausar Bashir Ahmed Award’ were also announced for the best performances in Mathematics and Architecture, respectively.
