<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">''<div class="adL" style="font-size: 12.8px;">''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">President Ram Nath Kovind has exhorted young students to try and give back to society. He was addressing the 30th annual convocation of Goa University at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim, near Panaji this afternoon. </span></div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">President Kovind said, access to higher education is still a privilege in India and may people's sacrifices go behind the achievement of students and institutions. He said, convocation is the culmination of a journey and a moment of renewal. </div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">The President said, education is empowerment and it allows us to know the world better and also think of ways to change the world for the better. He specially mentioned the academic excellence of girl students as an outstanding achievement.</div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mr Kovind said, India has the third largest education system in the world and caters to the largest youth population. He said expanding quantity in education should be complemented by quality. </div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">Highlighting Goa University's contribution and potential, he said the institution is the fulcrum of the blue economy enterprise of India. The potential in marine sciences is limitless. </div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our correspondent reports, 76 scholars received their PhD degrees and 70 students were awarded gold medals, scholarships and prizes for meritorious performance. </div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"></div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">First lady Mrs Savita Kovind was also present in the function.  Goa governor and chancellor of Goa University Mridula Sinha presided over the programme while chief minister Manohar Parrikar was a special guest. </div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;"></div>''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">In the evening, Mr Kovind will attend a civic reception hosted by the State Government.</div></div></div>