Going against the hallowed tradition of a convocation address, Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) today focused its attention and celebration on its graduating students, especially the outstanding ones who bagged the Chancellor’s and Vice-Chancellor’s medals as well as 13 gold medalists from various department.
Present at 4th convocation held on 3rd September were 21 students from 13 countries (Qatar, Malaysia, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Dubai, Kenya, Oman, Belgium, Mozambique, South Sudan and the Philippines). They were among 190 students from 26 countries besides India who successfully completed DBU Global On-line BCA, MCA, MBA and MS-IT programs.
The Governor of Assam and Visitor to the University Shri Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya delivering the presidential address complimented the university for focusing on the employability of its graduates. He said, “right there lies the difference between you and others who graduated from universities elsewhere.” He reminded the audience “never to forget one’s roots, to hold on to one’s traditional values and cultures and to be proud of oneself.”
The chief guest at convocation Assam Chief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi insisted on “the critical requirements of innovative thinking and being transdisciplinary in a globally connected world where earlier so called super power nations no longer hold a monopoly on job creation, innovation and political power.” He further encouraged the graduates to take their place bravely in this world, “yet with compassion and care for the environment which surrounds us.”
In her valedictory speech, graduate Swapna Bhuyan speaking on behalf of 187 B.Tech graduates said, “We have a lot to offer. Love, care and empathy — these small gestures of ours can instantly change someone’s world.” Winner of prestigious and keenly contested Vice-Chancellor’s medal for significant contribution to campus life Miss Bhuyan reminded her batch-mates, “to be humble, as whatever we are today is because of the opportunities,” and called on all graduates to “lead from the front and make a difference.”
Topper and gold medallist from the first batch of MSc Counselling, Cassandra Caszo who secured the highest CGPA grade in her program reminded 152 postgraduate students, “this is the lesson I would like to share with all of you. No matter what our futures will hold, there will be times in our lives where self-doubt will stand in the way of an open door. When this happens, let us all remember the one thing that Don Bosco University has taught us, that is to never let anyone tell you that you can’t. Let us seize the moment and make the best of it.”
As first of 5 PhD scholars from ADBU, Mr Niranjan Agarwala who spent almost four years working on his PhD said, “I can assure you that you have chosen the best place to invest in your future where research has become a priority. Hard work and honesty are the only two criteria which you will need to get success here.”
Salesian provincial of Guwahati and ADBU Chancellor Fr Thomas Vattathara (VM) encouraged graduating students in the words of great educationist Don Bosco whose bi-centenary of birth concluded 16th August saying, “‘life, this great gift which comes from God, is to be spent well. You will spend it well if you do not hide egoistically in your shell but open yourself to love, committing yourself to the good of the one who is poorer than you.’
The Vice Chancellor Dr Stephen Mavely presenting the annual report gave a peek into infrastructure development at ADBU permanent campus at Tapesia. He said - the first cluster of buildings and allied facilities in the form of an academic complex to house the five Social Science Departments together with 2 student halls (hostels), a food court and 55 staff quarters are almost ready. A Bioscience Complex with ample space for a ‘Sophisticated Instrumentation Lab’ is also getting ready to house the School of Life Sciences. Degrees were conferred on 535 students of which 187 students received bachelor’s degree in Engineering & Technology, 27 M.Tech, 58 MCA, 52 MSW, 140 MBA, 10 MA Human Rights degrees and the first batch of 2 MA in Educational Leadership, and 7 MSc Psychology.
The Chancellor’s medal for standing first across the degrees went to Miss Nasrin Ara Rahman and two Vice Chancellor’s medals for outstanding contribution to campus life were awarded to Miss Hazel Berret Wahlang and Miss Swapna Bhuyan for post graduate and graduate programs respectively. Established in 2008 as the first state private university of Assam, ADBU is managed by the Don Bosco Society which has 52 institutes of higher education as well as 125 institutes for Technical and Vocational Training in India.
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