Landmark Graduation Ceremony in Uganda

At a ceremony held on 18 September 2002 in Kampala, Uganda, 57 graduates of AKU received their degrees, diplomas and certificates at the University's first graduation ceremony outside Pakistan. AKU is Pakistan’s first private university with a mandate to provide relevant high quality educational, research and service programmes both nationally and internationally, and launched courses in Uganda in teacher education in 2000 and Advanced Nursing Studies in 2001. The ceremony crystallised the vision of the Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, who speaking at AKU convocation ceremony in Karachi in 2000, had said, "The establishment of the Advanced Nursing Studies programme in East Africa… will give life to the University as a Pakistani institution with an international mandate, reaching out as an expression of Pakistan into the international community.”

Margaret Mukobe receiving her Master of Education (Teacher Education) degree from Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President, AKU, at the graduation ceremony in Uganda.

Uganda's Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Honourable Professor Gilbert Bukenya, was the chief guest on the occasion and was joined by senior dignitaries from Uganda and overseas. Addressing the graduates and over 300 guests, Professor Bukenya noted the importance of this graduation as a milestone in the government's efforts to upgrade the quality of education and health care in Uganda and offered every support for future programmes of AKU in the country. He said, “We are delighted that AKU has established its academic programmes in Uganda. The future growth of our country is strongly linked to the development of our human resources. Uganda needs educated, committed and caring nurses and teachers to ensure healthy bodies and healthy minds in all our citizens."

AKU faculty and trustees with graduates of Advanced Nursing Studies and Master of Education degree programmes, at the first graduation ceremony in Uganda.

Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President, AKU, said the University's nurse and teacher education programmes established in Uganda are part of its regional initiative in Eastern Africa aimed at developing the skills and career advancement opportunities for professionals. He also thanked His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni and the Ugandan authorities, professional bodies and councils for showing great foresight in facilitating and encouraging higher education programmes, which simultaneously upgraded human resources and contributed to the quality of health care and education in the country.

Describing the graduating students as the pioneers of the University's programmes in the region, President Kassim-Lakha continued that "In some countries, universities internationalise themselves simply by increasing the number of foreign students on campus. AKU sees internationalisation as taking the campus to the students in their home countries."

He also congratulated those students receiving their general nursing diplomas under the Advanced Nursing Studies (ANS) programme, and welcomed the 43 incoming students to the programme. In her valedictory address, Rebecca Ssenyonjo, one of the first graduates of the ANS programme, highlighted its future impact for the country saying, "Today is not the end of our journey, but a beginning. Each one of us has the responsibility to implement what we have learnt to make a difference in the health status of the people of Uganda and to enhance the development of the nursing profession." The ANS programme is designed to provide continuing and higher education to practising nurses and nursing managers without the need for leaving work places or homes for extended periods.

In addition to the three nursing graduates, two teachers received their Master of Education degrees, 25 school teachers their Visiting Teacher Programme certificates and 27 education inspectors their certificates in Education Management. Margaret Mukobe, who completed the two-year Masters of Education programme at AKU Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) in Karachi, said, "The enabling environment I found at AKU-IED allowed me to re-think previous practices and beliefs about teaching and learning. I believe it is we the teachers who must make the difference to give our students quality education which is so necessary for national development." Teacher education programmes off e r e d in Kampala, were developed jointly by AKU and the Ugandan government to introduce new teaching and learning methodologies and philosophies to the country. To date, 88 Ugandan teachers and head teachers have completed AKU's certificate and degree programmes in education and educational management.

Dr. Robert Buchanan, former Dean of Cornell University Medical College in Ithaca, New York, and a Founding Trustee of AKU, also attended the ceremony. He said, "The graduates today are a manifestation of the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan that focuses on preparing talented young people for leadership, with a special emphasis on programmes for women." The latter is evidenced in the University's emphasis on the nursing and teaching professions in which women participate in large numbers.

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