Urdu university awards degrees in Jeddah

Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) held a mini-convocation in Jeddah this week where it awarded undergraduate and post graduate degrees to students.
Vice Chancellor Professor Mohd. Miyan, former vice chancellor A.M. Pathan and Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai conferred the degrees on students. Awardees included Aleem Khan Falaki who received a Master of Philosophy degree and Jamalullah Qadri, who became the first non-resident Indian to receive a Master of Arts degree.
Prof. Iqbal Ahmed, director of distance education, outlined the university's history and achievements over the years. He said MANUU was established by the Indian government in 1998 and has grown to 160,000 students.
There are 165 study centers across the country, and nine regional centers offering 20 courses aimed at matching students with labor market needs.
Ahmed praised Pathan and former consul general Ausaf Ahmed for establishing a learning center in Jeddah, which has already seen 200 students get their degrees.
In his presidential address, Miyan said distance education offered by institutions such as MANUU and Jamia Millia Islamia were proving effective at educating young people. He said Urdu was a living language that could become a leading language in the world if students committed themselves to it, particularly by producing research.
He said it was crucial to educate women because they were the ones who became assets to many generations.
“Educating women is empowerment,” he said.
He said MANUU is now offering a wide range of courses including computer science. The university’s teachers are also fluent in many languages. He said MANUU was trying to produce a generation of teachers who could inspire their students to seek knowledge.
Miyan praised the Indian consulate staff and other officials including Badar Ansari, Jamalullah Qadri and Sultan Mazheruddin for helping the university achieve its goals.
Pathan urged Indian expatriates to enroll in many distance learning courses. He said MANUU was the only non-commercial university offering good services at affordable rates.
Kidwai, who was the chief guest at the event, said the consulate would ensure it provided assistance for the university to set up an examination center.
He said there was a need for more distance learning courses offering teacher training in all languages. He thanked Miyan for expanding the university and bringing it on par with other famous national universities.
Dr. Maqbool Ahmed, assistant director of distance education, said the university authorities would continue visiting the Kingdom to set up study and examination centers in Riyadh and Dammam. He said admissions open today.
Ansari, of the Indian Education Council in Jeddah, said in his report that despite challenging conditions in the Kingdom, his organization was continuing to help students enroll in courses.