JORABAT, Sept 23 - The fifth convocation of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) was held at its campus at Ninth Mile, Ri-Bhoi district, on Monday.
It was attended, among others, by the Governor of Meghalaya and a galaxy of Vice Chancellors and dignitaries.
Altogether 1,414 students were awarded degrees � out of which 19 scholars were awarded PhD degrees, 1,053 students awarded postgraduate degrees, and 340 students awarded undergraduate degrees.
An honorary DSc was awarded to Prof Nirmal Kumar Chaudhury, former VC of Gauhati University, for his contribution to academic administration and promotion of science, technology and innovation. An honorary DLitt was awarded to Bishop George Mamalassery, Bishop Emeritus of Tura, for his contribution to education, health, spirituality and brotherhood.
Governor Tathagata Roy, who is the Visitor of USTM, presided over the event and awarded the degrees.
Congratulating the students, the Governor said the world was seeing a lot of changes but certain things such as human relationships would always remain unchanged.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Vinod Kumar Jain, VC of Tezpur University, said the world was changing rapidly and that the challenge was to keep pace with the change and make meaningful contributions to the growth of the country. �Work hard to update your skills� was his message to the youth. He said that universities became great through problem-solving research and innovations.
Guests present at the convocation included Lt Gen (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah, former VC of Aligarh Muslim University; Dr Mridul Hazarika, former VC of Gauhati University; Prof JS Patil, VC of National Law University And Judicial Academy; Prof Dipika Deka, VC of Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences; and Dr Dhiraj Bora, VC of Assam Science & Technology University.
USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque said the university aspired to become a world-class institution and appealed to all stakeholders to join it in its endeavour and participate in the nation-building process.
