Preparations are in full swing at Punjabi University, Patiala, for its 41st convocation scheduled to be held on April 9. Various committees constituted by the Vice-Chancellor Jagdeep Singh were working to finalise arrangements for the academic ceremony.
Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of the university, would preside over the convocation.
The Vice-Chancellor said a total of 725 students from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic sessions will be conferred degrees and medals. These include 457 PhD degrees, 179 postgraduate and professional course degrees, and 86 medals for undergraduate toppers. Among the honours are three Chancellor's Medals and 18 awards instituted with the support of nine philanthropic donors.
Jagdeep Singh said the university administration was treating the convocation as a major academic celebration recognising years of students' hard work.
In a new initiative, the university has introduced special academic regalia reflecting Punjabi culture, and students will be allowed to retain the ceremonial robes after the convocation.
Controller of Examinations Manish Kapoor said a mandatory rehearsal would be held on April 8 at noon at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall. Only those students who attend the rehearsal and bring their verified identity entry cards will be allowed to participate in the ceremony.
The academic robes will be available at stalls at the Science Auditorium before the rehearsal for a fee of Rs 1,000 per student.
Among the 457 PhD recipients, the largest number - 90 scholars - are from the Faculty of Social Sciences, followed by 85 from Business, 55 each from Languages and Education & Information Sciences, 37 each from Physical Sciences and Engineering & Technology, 31 from Computing Sciences, 27 from Life Sciences, 16 from Law, 14 from Medicine, and 10 from the Faculty of Art and Culture.