Women students won 130 of the 163 gold medals at the first convocation of Cluster University of Jammu on Saturday.
The ceremony was held in Jammu, and it marked the first graduating batch of the university.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke at the event.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also attended.
Sinha congratulated all graduates, gold medallists and their parents.
Key points
- Women students won 130 of the 163 gold medals.
- The first convocation was held on Saturday in Jammu.
- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed the event.
- The university brings together five established colleges.
So what is the university, and how was it formed?
Cluster University of Jammu is a collegiate federation.
This means it brings together five existing institutions under one university.
They are GGM Science College, MAM College, SPMR College of Commerce, Government College for Women in Gandhi Nagar, and Government College of Education.
Omar Abdullah called it a bold educational experiment.
He said it was meant to bring together the region's strongest academic traditions and modernise higher education.
The chief minister said pooling faculty, libraries and laboratories helps students.
It also encourages learning across different subjects.
Why did Sinha praise the women graduates?
Sinha said women students gave the most gold medals.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
He said that when given opportunities, daughters do more than reach positions. They redefine what achievement means.
He said their medals are signs of confidence for future generations.
He also said women across higher-education institutions in Jammu and Kashmir are writing new success stories.
What did the leaders say about the graduates' future?
Omar Abdullah urged young people to look beyond conventional careers.
He encouraged them to explore entrepreneurship and new economic opportunities.
He said government jobs alone cannot absorb every graduate.
Sinha linked the graduates to India's goal of becoming a developed country by 2047. He said many of them will be at the peak of their careers by then.
Explainer
What happened before
- Cluster University of Jammu is a collegiate federation that brings together five established institutions.
- The five institutions are GGM Science College, MAM College, SPMR College of Commerce, Government College for Women in Gandhi Nagar, and Government College of Education.
- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the university as a bold educational experiment meant to bring together the region's strongest academic traditions.
Why it matters
The university pools faculty, libraries and laboratories, which the chief minister said helps students learn across subjects. Its first batch of graduates has now completed their studies.
What to watch next
- The sources do not say what the university's next steps will be.
