The government will revise the syllabus and revamp the current examination system to improve higher education, Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) said here on Tuesday.
Addressing the 5th convocation of Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) here at the Convention Centre, the governor, who is also the vice chancellor of the university, said the government would offer Rs 1 billion scholarships to university students.
He stressed upon the need for more investment in higher education, as it was the only way to address the looming challenges of unemployment and poverty.
The governor also underlined the need of economic and political empowerment of the women, as their effective participation is vital for economic development.
Similarly, he said research culture has to be ensured in the universities for quality education, particularly at the higher level. "Without equipping youth with the quality education the challenges of poverty reduction, unemployment and low social indicators could not be effectively addressed," he added.
The government, he said, has taken a number of steps in the right direction, but added this is an uphill task and could not be accomplished without the support and help of the masses. He also appreciated the proactive role of FJWU and promised more land and funding for it.
Fatima Jinnah University Vice Chancellor Professor Najma Najam highlighted the major university projects like intercultural communication classes with University of Nabraska, establishment of FJWU Centre for Higher Education Leadership and Management, international social sciences conferences and foreign faculty visits.
She said the university from its very onset felt the need for imparting training to women in higher education and established HE leadership and Management Centre, which she said, is providing training to the women with the support of University of London and British Council.
She also congratulated the graduating students and their parents and hoped that they would uphold the institution's name in their professional life.
Later, the Punjab governor also conferred degrees on the graduating students of Masters and undergraduate programmes. In total, 596 students, 439 of masters programmes and 157 of undergraduate programmes, graduated from Fatima Jinnah Women University during the 2003-05 session.
Fourteen gold medals and 14 Rolls of Honours were also awarded to the students. Ms Amna Sami and Sobia Siddique were awarded gold medals and cash prizes of Rs 10,000 each by the Bank Alfalah and First Women Bank.
Degrees were also awarded to the students of Masters of Behavioral Sciences, Business Administration, Communication, Computer and Environmental Sciences, Deviance and Diplomatic Studies, Economics, Education, English, Fine Arts, Islamic Studies and Public Administration faculties.