Karachi As many as 233 nurses -- 212 undergraduate students and 21 graduate nurses -- received degrees at the Aga Khan University Convocation on Saturday. In medicine, two PhDs degrees in health sciences, 20 master’s degrees, 96 undergraduate degrees and 17 advanced diplomas (13 in human development and four in health professions education) were also awarded. The PhD in education went to a student from the northern areas. In addition, 31 master’s degrees and 12 advanced diplomas in education were granted. There were two best graduate awards with Dr Amna Qasim from the Medical College and Afsheen Amirali Hirani from the School of Nursing and Midwifery receiving the honours. The AKU also honoured two of its faculty, Dr Abdou Filali-Ansary, the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, from 2002-2010, was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus, and Dr Muhammad Memon, the director of the Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan, was given the Award of Excellence in Education. In his welcome address, the president, AKU, Firoz Rasul, spoke about civil society, of great importance for Pakistan and its neighbours and how everyone was a potential member. He said: “To find the determination and desire to take action, to galvanise others into joining you – that is the challenge you will face, but your determined effort is exactly what is needed to strengthen civil society organisations in our communities, professions and our country.” He also urged the graduating students to become effective agents of social development.
