Rawalpindi, June 27, 2025 – Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Pakistan’s first public-sector university dedicated solely to women’s higher education, proudly hosted its 22nd Convocation, awarding degrees to 1,450 graduates of the Class of 2024. The ceremony, held at the Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad was graced by His Excellency Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of FJWU, as Chief Guest, with Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed also in attendance.
The event celebrated the achievements of 1,203 undergraduate students, 214 MPhil scholars, 32 PhD recipients, and one Master’s graduate. In recognition of academic distinction, 44 gold and 23 silver medals were awarded. A touching moment was shared as a mother-daughter duo—Dr. Hina Gul and Nimra Yasmeen—received their PhD and BS degrees together, symbolizing FJWU’s enduring mission of intergenerational empowerment through education.
In his address, Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan commended the efforts of the Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Vice Chancellor Dr. Bushra Mirza, and FJWU’s faculty in advancing women’s education. He encouraged graduates to embrace lifelong learning, resilience, and adaptability in a fast-evolving technological world, while drawing inspiration from exemplary women in Islamic and Pakistani history.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza (Pride of Performance, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) highlighted the university’s remarkable progress over the past year. Currently, FJWU offers close to 90 degree programs across six faculties and 29 departments, catering to over 8,000 students. This academic community is supported by 163 dedicated faculty members, including 108 with PhDs. With more than 24,000 graduates making their mark across diverse sectors worldwide, the university continues to strengthen its global footprint. To further elevate academic standards and foster international collaboration, FJWU is now actively engaging adjunct faculty at the professor level from reputed foreign universities.
Dr. Bushra Mirza shared recent academic and research achievements, including the accreditation of BS programs in Computer Science and Environmental Sciences. Faculty published 278 research papers in HEC-recognized journals and engaged in 172 academic events nationally and internationally. The university also introduced 14 new degree programs in emerging fields.
FJWU’s Business Incubation Centre, rated by HEC in X-Category, supported over 50 student-led startups and hosted major events such as International Women Entrepreneurship Day 2024 and the Entrepreneurship Fair 2025. With PKR 24 million in funding, the center enabled student participation in bootcamps, pitch competitions, and secured seed funding from USAID and HEC’s Youth Innovation Award.
The university strengthened partnerships through 15 Memorandums of Understanding with institutions such as the U.S. Embassy, University of Essex, First Women Bank, NIC Islamabad, RCCI, and PGJDC. These collaborations promote research, curriculum development, and student mobility.
Major administrative and infrastructure advancements include the implementation of a University Online Management System to streamline academic and financial operations. A 724 kW solarization project—jointly funded by HEC and the university is underway to reduce energy costs and support sustainability. Promotions and re-designations were also approved for over 170 staff members to enhance institutional efficiency.
Highlighting student innovation, Dr. Bushra Mirza mentioned award-winning projects like the “Speech Enabled Machine Translation System for Pakistani Languages,” “Echoguide,” and the AI-based “Burn Medic” app, which received accolades at national tech summits.
FJWU’s global academic stature has grown, with rankings in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025 (501–520 in Asia; 34th in Pakistan), Times Higher Education World Rankings 2025 (401st globally), and WURI 2024 (91st globally). It ranked among the top 100 globally for Gender Equality and Quality Education.
FJWU mandated six-week internships for BS students across sectors including banking, media, and defense, and joined hands with Jazz through the Digital Pakistan Fellowship to prepare students for careers in digital entrepreneurship. Student societies remained active in promoting sustainability, civic values, and social well-being.
The university also launched an IT Skill Center for Students with Special Needs under USAID’s HESSA initiative and introduced the Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP) to strengthen faculty leadership. FJWU faculty received international honors, including USAID’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award and WIPO certification as Master Trainers in intellectual property.
FJWU students continued to excel in sports, with notable participation in national and international competitions. Ms. Nimra Rafiq from the Department of Education led the Pakistan Women’s Blind Cricket Team in its international debut series in Australia.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Bushra Mirza applauded the collective efforts of students, faculty, alumni, and parents, affirming that the graduates’ success reflects a shared vision of excellence and empowerment. She emphasized that their academic accomplishments must now translate into leadership, responsibility, and service.
With a legacy of academic distinction and a vision for inclusive innovation, FJWU remains a leading institution in shaping Pakistan’s future through empowered women leaders. The 22nd Convocation marks another proud milestone in this continuing journey.
