Graduation tends to be a bittersweet moment for university
students, who, after four years of a bubble-like existence, embrace a practical
life with challenges and exciting prospects. Same like situation was seen at
the convocation held by COMSATS Institute of Sciences and Technology (CIIT) on
Tuesday April 17, 2012.
The
43rd annual convocation was held for the bright-eyed students of the
university’s Wah and Attock campuses. Seated in ordered rows for the ceremony,
the young men and women of Comsats radiated pride and confidence.
Valedictorian
Saba Hafeez, while speaking on the occasion, said that a university degree is
more than just a piece of paper but an acknowledgment of the arduous process
students have gone through. It represents “the process of learning, of growing,
of failure and success,” she added nostalgically.
In total,
165 students, 142 of Wah Campus and 23 of Attock Campus, were awarded degrees
at master and graduation levels in the disciplines of Management Sciences, Computer
Science and Computer Engineering. At the convocation, 11 Campus medals (4 gold,
4 silver and 3 bronze) and 4 Institute medals (1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze)
were also awarded to the outstanding position holder students in various
programs of the two Campuses.
But at
the same time concerns were voiced by graduates over future employment
opportunities. BBA graduate and silver medalist Sana Iqbal described the job
market as tough. She plans to pursue a masters degree but would also like to
gain work experience.
Usman
Rasheed, another young graduate said that jobs advertised in the newspaper
required a masters degree and he had therefore decided to continue his studies
rather than to gain experience in what seemed like a shrinking job market.
Dean of
the Faculty of Business Administration Prof. Dr Syed Amjad Farid Hasnu shared
that out of over 200 graduates, 60 per cent were already employed, adding that
Comsats graduates are in high demand in the market.
“Youth
unemployment stands at seven per cent in Pakistan, though the figure only
brackets the youth between the ages of 15 to 24, which is not representative of
all college graduates,” he added.
The
words, “This is not the end but a new beginning” rang in the ears of the fresh
graduates branded as the future architects of Pakistan.
Director
Wah Campus, Dr Tayyab Akram informed the audience about scholarships being
provided to intelligent and deserving students from underdeveloped and
far-flung areas like the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, DI Khan and
Gilgit-Baltistan.
Discussing
strategic plans of Wah campus, he said that CIIT Wah was focused on providing
highly skilled manpower to industries in the surrounding areas.
The
director told the audience that CIIT had a student population of 17000 out of
which 1700 were enrolled at Wah campus. He called upon the campus faculty to
focus on research and publications so as to contribute to new developments in
their fields.
Prof. Dr. Junaid Zaidi, Rector CIIT, expressed
his satisfaction over the functioning of the institute and acknowledged the
efforts of the faculty in the academic development of their students. He called
upon the graduating students to be composed and encouraged them to play their
new role effectively in the society. He advised the graduating students to
utilize their full potential for the benefit of the nation.
