|
Prime
Minister and the Aga Khan laud Shamsh Kassim-Lakha's glorious tenure
at AKU
Presiding over
the 18th Convocation of Aga Khan University, the Chancellor of the
University, His Highness the Aga Khan announced the retirement of
the first president of the University, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha. The
Chancellor also introduced to the Convocation, Mr Kassim-Lakha's
successor, Firoz Rasul, who will assume the presidency on May 1,
2006.
His Excellency,
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was the Chief Guest at the Convocation,
congratulated Mr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha on his excellent contribution
to AKU and said, "The commitment, dedication, tenacity and resilience
demonstrated by Mr Kassim-Lakha, is a source of inspiration for
everyone."
Mr Kassim-Lakha
steps down from the leadership of AKU at his request after 30 years
of service. He chaired the committee that designed and constructed
the campus from 1979-1985; lead the commissioning and was appointed
the first head of Aga Khan University Hospital in 1985; and became
the first president of the University in 2000. Pakistan and France
have awarded him distinctions for his contributions to education.
Mr Rasul is
a member of the Board of Governors of the University of British
Columbia and has overseen the establishment of the Global Centre
for Pluralism in Ottawa. Mr Rasul is also a leading Canadian entrepreneur,
having built up a number of enterprises, most recently Ballard Power
Systems, an innovator in hydrogen fuel cell technology.
In his remarks
to the 275 graduates of AKU receiving degrees in nursing, medicine
and education, the Chancellor noted the remarkable strengths the
University had established in its short history. The University's
School of Nursing is but 25 years of age and its Medical College
is younger, yet they have graduated, respectively, over 1500 nurses
and some 1200 doctors. The Medical College and AKU's institute for
Educational Development, which is younger still, have both established
PhD programmes. In addition to Pakistan, the University now has
teaching sites and diploma and graduate programmes in Afghanistan,
Kenya, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom.
The Aga Khan
expressed his warmest gratitude to AKU's first President, Shamsh
Kassim-Lakha, noting that the substance and quality of the University
today, owed a great deal to his determination, energies and loyalty.
"All this has been possible," the Chancellor noted, "because of
what was accomplished during the tenure of Shamsh Kassim-Lakha.
He leaves behind him a dynamic institution. He and his wife Khadijah
have given their hearts to AKU."
President Kassim-Lakha
reflected that, "To have been asked to lead the team that translated
into reality His Highness's vision of AKU as a centre of excellence
has been a unique privilege for me. It is deeply gratifying that
Pakistan's first private university is now know internationally
and is establishing campuses and programmes in countries that also
seek excellence in nursing, medicine and teaching. The guidance
of the Chancellor, wisdom of an international Board, and the energy
of an outstanding and dedicated faculty and staff have been an unfailing
inspiration."
The Chancellor
also spoke of the University's aspirations for the future: in research,
in which its geneticists and early childhood specialists were focussing
on grave, endemic problems of the developing world; in undergraduate,
professional and PhD programmes in a number of fields, and to a
deeper commitment internationally.
"To assure that
the University moves forward to its next level of achievement in
these vital areas," the Chancellor stated, "I could not let Shamsh
Kassim-Lakha retire until I was satisfied that a successor fully
worthy of this office had been identified. I am delighted that Firoz
Rasul and his wife Saida, with their many academic and leadership
qualifications, will be coming to AKU."
Firoz Rasul
responded, "I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to take
on the leadership of Aga Khan University which has established such
a strong foundation, based on twenty five years of solid achievements.
The vision of the Chancellor to build an international university
that is focussed on improving the quality of life of communities
in the developing world is an inspiration and a great challenge."
The Chancellor
noted that Mr Kassim-Lakha and Mr Rasul would be working closely
together in the coming months, and that Mr Kassim-Lakha would continue
to be part of AKU, locally and internationally.
|
