FJWU Honours 1,450 at 22nd Convocation Ceremony

News Desk

Rawalpindi: Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Pakistan’s first public-sector university dedicated solely to women’s higher education, marked a proud milestone as it hosted its 22nd Convocation at the Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad.

A total of 1,450 graduates from the Class of 2024 were conferred degrees in a ceremony attended by Governor Punjab and FJWU Chancellor, His Excellency Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, as Chief Guest, alongside Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed.

This year’s convocation celebrated the achievements of 1,203 undergraduate students, 214 MPhil scholars, 32 PhD recipients, and one Master’s graduate. Among the most heartwarming moments was the recognition of a mother-daughter duo—Dr. Hina Gul and Nimra Yasmeen who received their PhD and BS degrees together, symbolizing the university’s mission of fostering intergenerational empowerment through education. A total of 44 gold and 23 silver medals were awarded to students who demonstrated academic excellence.Governor Saleem Haider Khan lauded the efforts of FJWU’s leadership, including Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza (Pride of Performance, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), the faculty, and HEC, in advancing women’s education in Pakistan. He encouraged graduates to embrace lifelong learning and adapt to a fast-evolving technological world, drawing inspiration from notable women in Islamic and Pakistani history.

In her address, Dr. Bushra Mirza highlighted the university’s remarkable progress over the past year. FJWU now offers close to 90 degree programs across six faculties and 29 departments, catering to over 8,000 students. Supported by 163 faculty members, including 108 PhDs, the university boasts more than 24,000 alumni making their mark in diverse sectors globally. To enhance academic quality and promote international collaboration, FJWU has also engaged adjunct faculty from reputed foreign universities.

Academic and research achievements included the accreditation of BS programs in Computer Science and Environmental Sciences, the publication of 278 research papers in HEC-recognized journals, and participation in 172 national and international academic events. The university introduced 14 new degree programs in emerging disciplines, ensuring alignment with future market needs.

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FJWU’s Business Incubation Centre, rated in HEC’s X-Category, supported over 50 student-led startups and organized flagship events such as International Women Entrepreneurship Day 2024 and the Entrepreneurship Fair 2025. With PKR 24 million in funding, students benefited from bootcamps, pitch competitions, and seed funding through USAID and HEC’s Youth Innovation Award.

Among the standout projects were the “Speech Enabled Machine Translation System for Pakistani Languages,” “Echoguide,” and the AI-based “Burn Medic” app, all of which received national accolades.

The university also made significant strides in building strategic partnerships, signing 15 Memorandums of Understanding with institutions including the U.S. Embassy, University of Essex, NIC Islamabad, PGJDC, First Women Bank, and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. These collaborations aim to boost research, curriculum development, and student exchange opportunities.

Institutional improvements were also a focal point. FJWU implemented a University Online Management System to streamline academic and financial operations. A 724 kW solarization project, jointly funded by HEC and the university, is currently underway to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability. Additionally, over 170 staff members received promotions and re-designations to enhance institutional efficiency and staff morale.

Inclusion remained a top priority, with the launch of an IT Skill Center for Students with Special Needs under USAID’s HESSA initiative. The Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP) was introduced to strengthen female faculty leadership.FJWU faculty members also earned international honors, including recognition from USAID for Outstanding Academic Achievement and certification by WIPO as Master Trainers in intellectual property.

The university’s growing global recognition is evident in its recent rankings. It placed 501–520 in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025 (34th in Pakistan), 401st globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, and 91st globally in the WURI 2024 rankings. It also ranked among the global top 100 in categories of Gender Equality and Quality Education.

FJWU students continued to shine in sports, civic engagement, and innovation. Ms. Nimra Rafiq from the Department of Education led the Pakistan Women’s Blind Cricket Team in its debut international series in Australia. Student societies remained active in promoting sustainability, civic values, and social development.

The university also mandated six-week internships for BS students in sectors including banking, media, and defense, and partnered with Jazz under the Digital Pakistan Fellowship Program to prepare students for careers in digital entrepreneurship.

In her concluding remarks, Vice Chancellor Dr. Bushra Mirza thanked the faculty, students, alumni, and parents for their collective efforts, emphasizing that the graduates’ success is a testament to a shared vision of excellence and empowerment. She urged graduates to translate their academic accomplishments into leadership, service, and meaningful societal contributions.