1st Convocation Speech- DIU: Vice Chancellor

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1st Convocation Speech- DIU: Vice Chancellor
« on: March 04, 2012, 10:18:45 AM »
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Your Excellency Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Chancellor of Daffodil International University, Dr. M. Osman Farruk MP. Hon’ble Education Minister, The Convocation Speaker, Dr. Hua Du, Country Director, Asian Development Bank, Bangladesh Resident Mission, Mr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Engineer Md. Shahrin Islam, Member of the Board of Governors, Chairman and Members of the University Grants Commission, Vice Chancellors of different Universities, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dean, Faculty Members and non- teaching colleagues of DIU, Proud parents and Guardians, Friends from electronic and print media, distinguished guests and dear graduating students

Assalamu Alaikum
I am extremely pleased to welcome you all to this solemn ceremony of the First Convocation of Daffodil International University.

We are really happy and highly encouraged to have the Honorable President and respectable Education Minister among us on this great day. I am thankful to Dr. Hua Du, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank for delivering the Convocation speech. It is particularly gratifying that Your Excellency – a former Hall-mate in Salimullah Muslim Hall, Department-mate in Soil Science, University of Dhaka, and colleague in the same Department from 1950 to 1990 – should, as Chancellor, be presiding over our First Convocation.

We are indeed grateful to your Excellency for the sustained interest you have been taking in the growth and development of university education in Bangladesh.

Respected Guests
Education is indispensable and of vital importance for the development of a country, and the objective of higher education is primarily to prepare an individual as a knowledgeable skilled person who can apply his knowledge for our socio-economic development and provide leadership in a required sector. “In an era of rapid technological progress and international economic integration, an educated, adaptable work-force enables countries to prosper. The reverse is also true: countries without such a work force are liable to be left behind and shut out of this prosperity.” (The World Bank,1995)

The unprecedented advancement in knowledge and ideas, such as, the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, and remarkable inventions, such as, transistors, microchips, etc, and creative innovations like interpretation of Structure of DNA in the field of science and technology in the last century coupled with the phenomena of globalization, diversity, new techniques of improved teaching by using multimedia, internet, etc. and higher expectations of the young people have transformed the university education of Bangladesh into a challenging one. DIU, established in January, 2002  is fully aware of these, and is committed to guide and educate students as individuals, so that they would easily realize their full career potential and enhance their levels of knowledge, skill, understanding and ability. DIU does it in an environment that reflects our tradition of personal service, commitment to innovate technology enriched education and dynamic learning relationships with community, employers, and society. The mission of the university is to foster national development process through the creation of excellent institution of higher education that is responsive to society’s needs and is able to develop leaders with vision, efficient managers to run industries and business farms profitably, quality teachers to deliver international comparable education to the students, good engineers to build appropriate infrastructure, sound doctors to fight against diseases, and able agricultural scientists to feed the growing  nation.

Respected Colleagues
The most important criteria by which a University is judged by the outside world are its academic atmosphere, intellectual climate, and physical environment.  It is a matter of some satisfaction for me to say that the university of ours has made uniformly good progress in all these fronts during the past four years, and one could perhaps say with some confidence that it has progressed in the right direction. Our classes began in March 2002 with 67 students under two faculties, namely Faculty of Business and Economics and Faculty of Science and Information Technology. The Faculty of Business & Economics presently provides education on Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), B. Com. (Hons.), BA (Hons.) in English at the undergraduate level, and MA in English and Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the postgraduate level. The Faculty of Science & Information Technology has been offering programs in B. Sc. in Computing and Information System (CIS), B. Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), B. Sc. in Computer Science (CS), B. Sc. in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering (ETE) and B. Sc. in Textile Engineering at the undergraduate level and Master of Science (MS) in Management Information System (MIS) at the postgraduate level.

At present, the university has got 3800 students who study in four campuses that consist of a total floor space near 1.5 lac square feet. We have, in the mean time, purchased two pieces of land measuring three acres at Bashundhara, Dhaka and the other at Gajaria, Munshigong for future expansion of DIU.

Ladies and Gentlemen
The demand for quality assurance has become a major concern in higher education today. Quality is not easy to define; it depends on the quality of system components (UNESCO, Paris, 1998), such as,  a) Quality of Staff, b) Quality of Curricula, c) Quality of Teaching Methods, d) Quality of Students, e) Quality of Infrastructure, and f) Systematic assessment and regulation in conformity with the above criteria.

DIU provides congenial academic atmosphere and quality teaching through a group (75 permanent and 25 part-time) of highly qualified, talented, competent, motivated and dedicated teachers, efficient management by young and hardworking administrative officers, constant help and guidance  by a homogenous and well-informed Board of Governors, well-planned teaching methods, adequate library and laboratory facilities, and well- designed internationally accepted course curricula, which are catered to the society’s needs and demand of international job market. The whole education system in DIU has been designed so that the students can respond efficiently and flexibly to the fast-changing demands of market and economy. Moreover, the university has maintained such a cost structure that a student coming from middle class would find affordable. Here the students can pay their fees on monthly installment and fifteen to sixteen percent meritorious and poor students enjoy tuition fee waiver.


Your Excellency
Research is a fundamental mission (Dakar, April, 1997) and a major function of higher education. It is, therefore, essential that this potential be turned fully to account, not only for teaching purposes, but also in order to contribute to the areas of Science and Technology, Social and Human Sciences (Havana, Palermo, November, 1996) for the advancement of knowledge, cultural development and fulfillment, and for solving the problems with which society is facing today. Research is needed for  to sustainable human development and for spreading ideas of peace, democracy and protection of environment (Havana, Dakar, Tokyo) This is the duty, the responsibility and function of higher education and its teaching personnel in particular.(UNESCO, Paris, 1998). Daffodil International University has established two research centres with the Deans of Faculties at the apex with an aim to encourage and facilitate research by the teachers and students. Two journals, namely, DIU Journal of Business & Economics and DIU Journal of Science and Information Technology, are published twice a year - once in July and the other in January.

 
Dear Graduating Students
You are going to receive certificates today, I congratulate you most warmly for having had the privilege of becoming members of this great seat of learning.

During your stay with us, we have tried to instil in you those virtues and values, which we hold very dear and which have been cherished at all ages by all civilized men and women in the world. We have tried to help you acquire an extent of knowledge, a   breadth of mind, and a depth of character that may enable you to face the hard realities of life with courage, conviction, faith, and fortitude. The success of our attempts will depend not so much on the victories you achieve, but how honorably and skillfully you fight the battle of life. In that battle, your technical ability, intellectual capacity, and moral integrity will be your real strength. How far we have been able to equip you with these, it is for the world to judge; but, we confidently hope that by your conduct, character, and capacity you will prove yourselves worthy of the trust reposed on you by your Alma Mater. Whether you are a scientist, a business specialist, or an educator, keep the ideal of national service in the forefront of your mind. Respect the dignity of man and do not flinch or falter to make sacrifices for the cause that is right and just. Have pride in your performance but modesty in your bearing. Remember that education is a life-long process. Compared to what life has to teach, you have learnt little from us. But, if you have learnt how to learn more, you have learnt something important. (Ghani, 1964)

Today the nation is in a critical stage of its economic development. Political independence will have no meaning unless we can free ourselves from poverty, hunger, disease, and ignorance. This is a gigantic task, but the challenge has to be met. And, this can be met if you- every one of you, young men and women- apply yourselves to it with all your heart and soul and body. Remember what I have said before. Have a vision but a mission too. Wed your idealism with realism and your theory with practice.

Thank you all.

Allah Hafez.


Professor Dr. Aminul Islam
Vice Chancellor
Daffodil International University

Wednesday , May 24, 2006
"Many thanks to Allah who gave us life after having given us death and (our) final return (on the Day of Qiyaamah (Judgement)) is to Him"