GANGTOK: Sikkim Professional University (SPU) celebrated its 8th Convocation Day at Chintan Bhawan here on Tuesday.
The event was graced by Governor Om Prakash Mathur, University chairman Hemant Kumar Goyal and other dignitaries from the university and the Governor’s office.
The ceremony commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Governor, accompanied by a soulful rendition of Saraswati Vandana performed by the university students.
In his welcome address, Hemant Kumar Goyal expressed heartfelt gratitude to the State government for its unwavering support and educational aid to the university. He also highlighted SPU's achievements including its recognition in India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records and India Today for maintaining the best teacher-student ratio in the State among other accolades.
Degrees were conferred upon students from various disciplines, including B.Sc. Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Allied Sciences. Seven students were awarded gold medals for academic excellence, while four students received silver medals. Sonia Devi from the B.Sc. Pharmacy program topped the university with a score of 93%.
In his convocation address, Governor Om Prakash Mathur congratulated the graduates on their dedication and hard work in achieving their academic milestones. He underscored the importance of education as the cornerstone for empowering youth to contribute to the nation’s progress and uplift society.
Mathur commended the SPU for nurturing diligent and capable students who represent the future of the country. Emphasizing the challenges faced by Sikkim, particularly its high suicide ratio, he urged students to focus on holistic development while avoiding detrimental habits such as drug abuse. He also encouraged them to play an active role in society’s development and leverage opportunities provided under various government schemes, including the Prime Minister's Vibrant Villages Program.
Highlighting the initiative to develop 48 border villages in Sikkim as “first villages of the country,” he stressed their strategic significance and the need for educated youth to contribute to these efforts.
The Governor also spoke about the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, designed to transform India into a global knowledge powerhouse by promoting access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability in education. He inspired the graduates to strive for personal excellence while maintaining a balance between physical and mental well-being. Encouraging self-belief, he advised students to overcome self-doubt and approach the future with confidence and determination.