The First Convocation

The first convocation of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya was held today amidst enthusiasm of students, parents and University fraternity. The convocation was held to confer Graduation, Post-Graduation and PhD degrees to students who passed out in the years, 2013, 2014, 2015. The convocation was held at the, Techno City, USTM. The Hon’ble Governor of Meghalaya and Visitor of the University Shri V. Shanmuganathan conferred the degrees and delivered the convocation address. A total of 534 passed out students received their Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree while lone scholar Shri Siddique Ali Ahmed was awarded PhD Degree in School of Biological Science. He earned the distinction of being the first PhD awardee of the University while 180 Scholars are still carrying out their research works.

Hon’ble Governor Meghalaya and Visitor of the University Shri V. Shanmuganathan in his Convocation address urged the students to be focused and mentally fit. He also added that the students should feel privileged that such a galaxy of luminaries from different corners of the World has gathered for this Convocation. Hon’ble Governor further said that the University which started with six students in the year 2011 has registered phenomenal growth and has over two thousand on its rolls today. He expressed his confidence that USTM will achieve a global status in the very near future. Hon’ble Governor Meghalaya also urged the students for bringing about knowledge revolution that seeks to build capacity and generate quality that will enable our country that empower human capita.

Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh, the Minister of Science and Technology, Govt of Meghalaya while addressing the degree holders said that this is her third visit to USTM and every time she has witnessed university marching from progress to progress. She said that USTM is not only providing quality education to the the students of Meghalaya and Assam but also to the entire Northeast region. She promised on behalf of the Govt Meghalaya to extend all sort of help for the growth of USTM

In the first convocation of the University Honorary Doctorate Degrees were awarded to Shri J.M. Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner of India and Maulana Tayebur Rahman Barbhuiya, Ameer-e-Shariat, North East in recognition of their outstanding achievement and contribution for greater good of the Society. In the Convocation eighty students were decorated with Gold Medals in recognition of their brilliant performance. The convocation was kicked started with academic procession consisting of Members of the Board of Governors, Academic Council, Deans, Heads of the Department and professors and other high dignitaries donning the ceremonial Convocation robes and proceeding to Convocation Hall. The convocation was attended by luminaries from different walks of life from all over India. Some of them are: Prof. Mohammed Istiyaque, VC of Magadh University, Prof. Sanjay Deshmukh, VC, Mumbai University; Prof SK. Srivastava, VC, NEHU; Prof.G.D Sharma,VC Bilaspur University; Dr. M. A. Lyngdoh, Minister of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Shri Donkupar Roy, the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr.D.T. Khating, Founding VC, Central University of Jharkhand; Dr. Alexander P. Hansen, Director, German Research Foundation.

Earlier Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM offered his welcome address. In his welcome address Chancellor extorted the passing out graduates to face challenges and overcome it as Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay did in climbing Mount Everest. Quoting Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam he asked the students to have big dream and achieve it as “Dream is not which you see while sleeping. It is something that does not let you sleep”.

Shri. Hoque in his address highlighted the road map that has charted out for USTM. According to him USTM has mission to accomplish-“Mission Bronze” to make the USTM a top university in the East by 2020,”Mission Silver” to become one of the top universities in the country-by 2025 and “Mission Gold”- to become one of the world class universities by 2030.
Dr. P G Rao Vice Chancellor of the University presented the report highlighting the journey of the University starting in 2011. He reported that the University commenced functioning on 6th September 2011 only with six students. The USTM now has 2213 students including PhD Scholars offering thirty courses of undergraduate and post graduate in more than fifteen departments under seven School of Studies.