The 17th graduation ceremony of Pokhara University was finally conducted on 8th Falgun, Sunday, after being on hold for the last three years. Prof. Dr. Prem Narayan Aryal, the Vice-Chancellor of Pokhara University, presided over the ceremony instead of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba because the latter couldn't attend.
The Vice-Chancellor said, "Pokhara University has its own distinct identity and that it can make a significant contribution to the development of educational tourism and health tourism as compared to other universities in Nepal." He also promised that Pokhara University would continue to expand its policies and programs covering various aspects of education, health, tourism, and industry to reflect the natural resources, originality, and identity of Pokhara.
The 17th Convocation was held at the University, Pokhara-30, Khudi Dhungepatan. Eleven thousand two hundred sixty-eight students who had taken transcripts from 20th Chaitra 2075 BS to 1st Falgun 2078 BS graduated. There were three doctoral-level graduates in the Faculty of Humanities and School of Business, 494 at the postgraduate level and 2,521 at the undergraduate level of Faculty of Science and Technology, 84 graduates at the postgraduate level, and 1,014 at the undergraduate level in the School of Health and Allied Sciences. Similarly, there were 97 graduates at the MPhil level, 93 at the postgraduate level, and 57 at the undergraduate level under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Also, 1,696 students of the Faculty of Management at the postgraduate level and 5205 students at the undergraduate level have graduated.
At the graduation, 931 students of various disciplines were on the dean's list. Of these, 219 are undergraduates and 390 undergraduates in the Faculty of Management, 18 undergraduates and 95 undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences, 57 undergraduates in the Faculty of Science and Technology, 136 undergraduates and five undergraduates.
Three doctoral level students and 16 students of various postgraduate disciplines were awarded the Chancellor Medal for scoring the top marks among all graduates. Similarly, 8 top students of different disciplines at the undergraduate level were awarded the Vice Chancellor's medal. In addition, the three students who got the highest marks in Computer Application were awarded the OCEM Gold Medal.
Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, a senior educator and former Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University, was the convocation's chief guest. Dr. Sharma stated that Gandaki is powerful in terms of natural beauty, culture, and history, as well as a plethora of ardent thinkers, authors, poets, and intellectuals. He also stressed the importance of bringing a revolution in the agriculture sector within the country, exporting the goods, and ceasing external help. He emphasized the need of the government thinking seriously about the growth of technology, health, communication, agricultural, and construction sectors, stating that the country requires a highly qualified workforce of high, mid, and low levels.
