Convocation-2024 was held at COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Abbottabad Campus on Monday, 18th Nov, 2024 in the Haroon Ur Rashid auditorium, Abbottabad campus. The founding rector of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi was the chief guest of the ceremony. Rector COMSATS, Prof. Dr. Sajid Qamar along with director Abbottabad Campus, Meritorious Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ali Khan graced the event. The distinguished guests included the members of senate, syndicate and academic council, deans’ faculty of sciences, chairpersons and heads of different departments, faculty, and parents. The convocation was conducted in two sessions (31st convocation in morning and 32nd convocation in the evening) in which a total of 1296 students who have passed out in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 appeared. Students received degrees in disciplines of Engineering, Business Administration, Information Sciences and Technology, Sciences, and Health Sciences. The passed-out graduates included 954 Bachelors and 303 Masters students. Moreover, 58 students bagged medals (gold, silver, and bronze) at institute and campus level for their outstanding academic performance in different fields. From session Fall 2023, at institute level, 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal while at campus level,5 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal was given to the outstanding students. Similarly, from session Spring 2024, at institute level, 7 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal while at campus level, 12 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 9 bronze medals were awarded to high achievers. Noteworthy, 39 students were awarded PhD degrees in the disciplines of Electrical Engineering, Computer Sciences, Management Sciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies, and Biotechnology.

The honorable chief guest Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi is a well-known visionary academician who has 36 years of professional experience in the field of education. He realizes the worth of good education and its role in shaping up the personalities of youth, which was reflected in his speech. In a lighthearted conversation, he congratulated the graduates and showed his belief in their competence. He advised the students to remain devoted and embark on the professional challenges with full enthusiasm and contribute to country progress. He also congratulated the parents and acknowledged their efforts in helping their child gain a professional degree. He also thanked them for putting their trust in COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus management and faculty in grooming and shaping up the future of their children. In the concluding remarks, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi showed satisfaction towards the management and faculty of Abbottabad Campus for their continuous efforts in uplifting the name of COMSATS in higher education sector.

On this occasion, honorable director, Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ali Khan presented the campus report in which he briefed the audience about the ongoing academic activities in COMSATS Abbottabad. He first congratulated the passing out graduates and thanked their parents for choosing COMSATS Abbottabad for their children professional degree. He said that the aim of COMSATS Abbottabad campus is to produce skilled individuals in different disciplines who can perform well in their respective fields. He advised the students to utilize their potential in true essence and contribute in Pakistan’s progress. He said that in COMSATS Abbottabad, we have highly educated faculty, mostly PhDs, who help students gain knowledge through their teaching and research. At CUI, Abbottabad, we have highly equipped labs wherein students can perform their research activities. Moreover, we have established community outreach units to engage the different components of society in research domain. We hope to grow further and contribute in shaping up the society through our research and academic activities.

He updated the audience about the academic and research growth at COMSATS Abbottabad wherein currently more than 5000 students are enrolled. He informed the audience that in keeping with the changing global trends, 2 new departments i.e. Computer Engineering and Economics and 3 new programs i.e. Business Data Analytics, Mathematics with Data Science, and Medical Laboratory Technology have been launched. The new departments and programs are also accredited by concerned registration authorities. Moreover, he informed about the graduation of 110 Afghan students in this convocation. He also updated the audience about the start of academic activities at Dhamtore campus after the transfer of the Department of Computer Sciences and Software Engineering. He thanked the provisional and district government for their cooperation in the establishment of Dhamtor campus. He also thanked Pakistan Army for their support in the establishment of CUI Abbottabad campus.

In his concluding remarks, he said that our aim at COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus is to combine valuable education with applied research that generate skilled individuals. In the ending note, honorable Director thanked the management and faculty of Abbottabad campus for their devotion and teamwork in making convocation 2024 a success.