RSUST Graduates 5,453 In Jubilee Convocation, Saturday

A total of 5,453 graduands found worthy in both character and learning would take part in the 25th convocation ceremony at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), billed for Saturdayin Port Harcourt.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Barineme Fakae disclosed last Monday at a media briefing held in the Senate chambers as part of activities marking the event tagged, “Silver Jubilee Convocation.”

While 1,357 were of 2011/2012 session, the VC said 3.655 were those who had been on the waiting list as the administration decided to clear a backlog of those who could not graduate for past years due to one reason or the other.

A breakdown of the figure shows that 378 had higher degrees out of which 19 got Ph.D, just as six have First Class, 285 second class Upper while 2,260 had Second Class Lower.

Continuing, the VC said, 2,355 had Third Class while 169 got pass grade.

One unique feature of the Silver Jubilee Convocation, according to Prof Fakae was that no honorary degree would be awarded to any distinguished personality as was common in the past editions of the ceremony.

Delighted that the university had remained steady on the path of growth under his administration, the VC revealed that 100 young and dynamic lecturers had been employed recently.

The new lecturers, he remarked, scaled through three stages of strenuous interviews, which included proficiency in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), adding that the introduction of computer in the learning programme had improved the quality of RSUST’s products into the job market and entrepreneurship.

On the lecturers strike that had bedeviled the institution in the recent past, Prof Fakae said both Heads of Departments and Deans of Faculties in a recent meeting had resolved that strike would no longer be an option of resolving crises because of its negative impact in the bid to actualise dreams of founding fathers who established the institution.

According to him, HODs and deans of faculties were more than ever before ready to query questionable acts while it had become mandatory for students to meet compulsory 75% per cent class attendance.

On funding, the VC stated that concerted efforts had been made to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue base through sale of its services, commercialisation of its car parks, penalties or fines, amongst other strategies.

“This is a new RSUST that girls and anybody can move about freely without any fear of cultism. We have rebranded the institution such that we can now sell our services,” he said, adding that organisers of social events and picnic makers were finding the campus as a new haven in view of its peaceful, seren and clean environment.

Chris Oluoh