<< Due recognition - His Holiness confers certificates

The Tshugla Lopen of Zhung Dratshang said that, even though there were many learned Buddhist philosophers with qualification higher than PhD, there did not exist a system of recognizing their qualification.

“We’ll now follow the international system of recognizing qualified people who are pursuing their studies in Buddhism in our country,” he said. The lopen said that they would start PhD studies in the future for those who have acquired master’s degree to upgrade their qualification.

The lectures were taught by the Khenpo and scholars from the Tango Buddhist college in Thimphu, Sangchen Chokhor in Paro and the institute of language and culture studies (ILCS) in Semtokha.

But their on-campus education was only for a duration of two months in a year during the winter vacation and the rest of the studies, including project work, was done through distance learning from their workplace.

Two month’s classroom teaching took place in Phuentsholing.

The Drabi Lopen, the Zhung Dratshang, the RUB Vice Chancellor, Dasho Pema Thinley, the RCSC secretary, Dasho Bap Kesang and other officials attended the ceremony.