Education: A total of 252 graduates including 32 in three masters courses received their certificates at the 19th convocation ceremony from the Chancellor of University of Canberra Dr Tom Calma AO on August 10.

Sixteen self-financed students graduated in the first batch of Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other graduates include four in Master of Management on government scholarship, and 12 in Master of Public Administration including nine on government funding.

The rest were graduates in Post Graduate (PG) Diploma in National Law, Public Administration, and Financial Management, which includes 101 Diploma graduates in National Law, information management system, and financial management.

RIM offers four masters courses today in partnership with the University of Canberra since 2012.

The postgraduate diplomas and diplomas are regular programmes offered by RIM whereas the masters programmes are offered in partnership with the University of Canberra (UC) and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia and the Bhutanese government. The master’s courses have units ranging from 12 to 16 units.

RIM has taken over none units of three master’s courses conducted jointly with the UC. Lecturers from UC teach most of the core units. The institute plans to take over more units as more of its faculty completes their PhD. It has planned five PhD in the 11th Plan. It has one lecturer with PhD while another two are yet to receive their doctorate. Recently, the Australian government granted AUD 475,000 for two PhD candidates to begin studies this year.

This is the first convocation a Prime Minister and the Chancellor of UC attended, RIM director general Karma Tshering said.

He said that the institute is planning for a joint certification with the UC or dual master’s degrees, which would have wider acceptance and recognition.

The convocation is organised annually coinciding with the Foundation Day of the Institute.