Graduates urged to ‘make a choice’ at the 27th Convocation Ceremony of AKU

Karachi: Nearly a year after a historic convocation that celebrated three decades of the University’s commitment to providing quality higher education, the Aga Khan University’s 27th Convocation Ceremony was held on the 29th of November 2014.

As 382 graduands gathered to receive their degrees, Ali Hasan, the Class of 2014’s valedictorian echoed a sentiment common to all the students, “Our institution prides itself not only on its high standards of education, but also on never compromising on its adherence to a moral and ethical code.” His thoughts were echoed by Kiran Salim Reimoo and Dr Aliza Hussain, winners of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Medical College’s Best Graduate Awards.

Thunderous applause greeted Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Pakistan’s first Academy and Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker, as she made her way to the rostrum. During the course of her very motivating speech, she reminded the graduates, “To make a choice: be relentless. You will walk away from life without regrets if you do.”

Firoz Rasul, President, Aga Khan University, advised the graduating students to take a step back and to seek the opportunities present in a world made smaller by instant communications, a world without borders. “With today’s technology, a borderless age is an age of abundance. Knowledge is not only abundant; it is more accessible than it has ever been. And ultimately it is knowledge that allows us to develop in the way that we wish.” 

This year, the Medical College graduated 102 doctors while granting 37 master’s degrees and 3 PhDs in health sciences. In addition, 19 people were awarded Advanced Diplomas.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery proudly presented its first cohort of Post-RM Bachelor of Science in Midwifery graduates. These 21 graduates, five from each province of Pakistan and one from Afghanistan are the first to receive a university midwifery degree, based on global standards set by the International Confederation of Midwives. They were flanked by 166 graduands: 153 receiving the bachelor’s (BScN and Post-RN BScN) and 13 receiving the master’s degree.

The Institute for Educational Development granted a PhD in Education to three students and master’s degrees to 31 students.