AKU Graduates 242 Doctors, Nurses and Teacher Educators at 17th Convocation

Governor Stresses Urgent Need for Educated Workforce

In a population of 140 million, only 2.6 per cent of Pakistanis in the 17 to 23 years age group are enrolled in colleges and universities. This is a grave pointer to potential leadership crises in years to come. This was stated by His Excellency, the Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, who was the chief guest at the 17^th Convocation of Aga Khan University (AKU) held in Karachi on November 27, 2004 .

The Governor was addressing a gathering of over 2,000 guests which included students, their parents, diplomats, academicians and government officials. AKU's 2004 Convocation featured 242 new graduates comprising 76 doctors, 123 nurses, 34 recipients of MEd degrees, 6 recipients of MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics degrees and 3 MSc in Health Policy and Management degree recipients.

"In Pakistan , human resource development has been neglected to a worrying extent. The country ranks 120th on the scale of world human development indicators," disclosed Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad. "That is why I look upon you to help the country progress," the Governor told the graduating classes as he felicitated them on their achievements.

Pakistan 's critical development needs are extensive and varied as the country moves towards a more market-oriented economy, Dr Ebad explained, adding that quality manpower, especially trained and capable of responding to the needs of the society, is essential to speeding up this transition. "One of the important challenges for Pakistan continues to be the need to produce a well-trained and educated workforce that will provide necessary leadership in all areas of human endeavour, particularly in the education and health sectors."

Lamenting the paltry allocations for the education sector and their inefficient utilisation in the past, the Governor said rapid improvement was being made in the social sector through public-private partnership which is assuming "an important place in implementation of policies." In this regard, he praised AKU for playing a key role through policy dialogues with various provincial governments, especially with respect to nursing, teacher education and school improvement.

"We are indebted to the Chancellor of the University, His Highness the Aga Khan, for his invaluable gift to the people of Pakistan , indeed more so to this province, as a major national and regional resource," the Governor remarked. He said it was heartening to note that the University's Faculty of Arts Sciences, being built in the suburbs of Karachi , is now in its planning stages. This demonstrates the "deep commitment of His Highness the Aga Khan to this country and to the cause of quality education," added the Governor.

The Governor pointed out that the University's credibility had led many countries to invite AKU to assist them in efforts to improve the quality of education and heath care services. "In the last three years, AKU has established campuses in Kenya , Tanzania , Uganda and the United Kingdom , in addition to implementing nursing programmes in Afghanistan and Syria .

Congratulating students and welcoming the Governor to the ceremony, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, H.I., S.I., President of AKU, said that the University works with government and reaches out to become directly involved in upgrading the delivery of critical social services at local and regional levels.

"In recognition of the University's experience and commitment to excellence, AKU has been invited by the government to participate in policy dialogues on health and education. This confidence on the part of the government reflects the University's growing stature as a truly national institution," said the AKU President. He added that AKU had shown how an innovative, forward-looking institution can work with provincial and federal governments to create meaningful and lasting public-private partnerships.

Elaborating on AKU's focus on research and scholarship, Mr Kassim-Lakha informed the audience that "research development is increasingly becoming one of the most critical areas on which our excellence will be based." The University's current research, he said, is concerned not only with agents of disease but also the social determinants of illness and disease, such as poverty, gender, violence and injury. "AKU has already established significant capability for biomedical and biosocial research, notably in genetics, cell biology and environmental health. This year alone, the University has received over US $500,000 for new research being conducted by its faculty," he revealed.

Among AKU's most noteworthy objectives is an unwavering adherence to a merit-based and needs-blind admissions policy, as well as its commitment to enhancing the role of women in the health and education sectors. The University is open to all academically qualified students irrespective of gender, religion, race, ethnicity, creed or domicile. At the same time it ensures that no student who qualifies for admission on the basis of merit is denied entry for lack of funds. Forty per cent of AKU's students enjoy some form of additional financial assistance through scholarships and loans.

At the same time, AKU subsidises the cost of patient care in the University Hospital and also offers a Patient Welfare Programme that helps those who cannot afford the full cost of treatment. Since its inception in 1986, this welfare programme has disbursed as much as Rs. 1.05 billion rupees to over 200,000 needy patients, creating access to high-quality care for those who may otherwise be deprived of this right.

The AKU President thanked the government as well as national and international donors for helping the University transcend national frontiers, programmatically and geographically. "The University is now active in three continents with 10 teaching sites in seven countries," he said. At the request of respective governments, AKU has established nursing and teacher education programmes in East Africa with a current enrolment of over 450 students, he disclosed, who represent 25 per cent of the AKU student body. "Postgraduate Medical Education programmes have also commenced in East Africa and with the approval of the AKU Chancellor and Board of Trustees, the development of a new Institute of Educational Development is also under way."

Saima Hirani, an AKU School of Nursing graduate who delivered the valedictory speech, summed up her academic journey through AKU: "Our training at AKU is more than simply attending school, or progressing academically, or getting a diploma or a degree. It is an attitude, an approach, a state of mind and an intellectual experience that has helped us develop a vision and translate that vision into action."