St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, celebrated a historic milestone with the first convocation ceremony for its first batch of postgraduate students on Friday, 27th September 2024. The event took place at 10:00 AM on the University campus, marking a proud moment in the institution’s legacy. A total of 694 students from 21 postgraduate programs were awarded their degrees.
The convocation procession was led by the Registrar Dr Melwin Colaço and the Controller of Examinations, Dr C Mohana Das. The Honorable Vice-Chancellor of the University Rev. Dr. Victor Lobo SJ welcomed the gathering. The Honorable Minister for Higher Education and Pro-Visitor of the University, Dr. M.C. Sudhakar presided over the ceremony. In his address, Dr. Sudhakar highlighted the pivotal role of higher education in shaping the future of society and the significance of St Joseph’s University in nurturing well-rounded individuals committed to contributing to the nation.
The convocation address was delivered by distinguished alumnus Dr. Thimappa Hegde, Noted Neurosurgeon and Director, Narayana Institute of Neurosciences, Bengaluru. He inspired the graduates with references to the Bhagavad Gita and examples from the life of Jesus Christ, urging them to build a world that fosters unity across all communities and faiths to celebrate unity in diversity and embracing the difficulties of life to breakthrough rather than breaking down in the face of difficulties. He encouraged the students to do their very best and to give back to society through what he enumerated as “pitra runa”, “lok runa” and “acharya runa”, values which we as a university aim to cultivate in our students. Rev. Fr. Dionysius Vaz SJ, Chancellor of the University emphasized on the values of Jesuit education in exercising intellectual rigour with humane approach. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by the Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Ronald Mascarenhas.
The highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of academic excellence of St Joseph’s University, with 23 students receiving gold medals (15 of whom were female) and another 23 awarded silver medals (17 of whom were female). Out of the 694 graduates, 499 achieved distinction, 336 secured first class, and 15 earned second class. Special awards were presented to two students, and 11 students received the prestigious Best Outgoing Student Award from their respective schools. With over 2,000 people in attendance, the convocation was a celebration of the university’s long-standing heritage and its continuous commitment to academic excellence.
This inaugural convocation is a testament to the university’s dedication to nurturing future leaders, emphasizing not only academic achievement but also a deep sense of responsibility towards society.
