Zubair Qureshi
President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said scope of hybrid and internet-based education had increased manifold as the world grappled COVID-19 and asked the nation to take hold of global opportunities by equipping themselves with knowledge compatible with contemporary markets.
“As a silver lining amid hard times, the pandemic has pushed the nation to necessarily adapt itself to new ways in ensuring access to distance education, which must continue,” the President said while addressing at the convocation ceremony of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
In line with safety measures against COVID-19, the convocation was organized with a limited number of students comprising medal-winners only, while the rest of graduates witnessed the live ceremony telecast through web-link.
President Alvi, who is also the Chancellor of GIKI, was of the view that e-learning systems had greater outreach with lesser expense.
The President recalled that from 2007 to 2013, he personally worked to support open-learning from the academic lectures of Harvard university, adding that “sharing of knowledge always ensured a balanced and well-groomed society”.
He gave reference to the book by Thomas Piketty titled ‘Capital and Ideology’, which he said focused on the need to end elitist education that perpetuated inequality in society.
Education based on principles of social justice and equality can act as a catalyst in bringing positive change in society, he added.
The president also congratulated the GIKI graduates on their hard work and also the parents and teachers for their contribution in making the new generation productive citizens for society.
He advised them to never divert from the traditions of religion and culture that imbibed morality and decency.
President also gave away medals to graduates who achieved positions in various disciplines of Doctorate of Philosophy, Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts.
Earlier, Rector GIKI Jehangir Bashar briefed the president about the institute’s achievements in the previous years and the accolades its students had won nationally and on the international forum.
Research is the hallmark of the GIKI and our faculty and students have proven that in the enabling environment, they can excel in all disciplines of science & technology, said the Rector.
He said Chinese technological company Huawei had set up its training centre at GIKI on Artificial Intelligence and intended its expansion as well. Pro-Rector Academics Jamilun Nabi mentioned that GIKI had effectively coped with pandemic by properly conducting online classes.
