Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, held its Annual Departmental Assembly on 24 August 2026, bringing together faculty and students from the **Departments of Statistics, Mathematics, and Physics, along with Principal Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum and Vice Principal Dr. Kalsoom Akhtar.

The assembly opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the Bible, followed by the College Anthem and the National Anthem, reflecting Kinnaird’s inclusive and interfaith spirit.

A distinctive feature of this year’s assembly was its interactive format, introduced by Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum. Instead of conventional departmental presentations, faculty members and students were invited to personally share their academic, research and professional achievements. The interactive approach created an engaging atmosphere of recognition, appreciation and collective pride.

Faculty members from all three departments highlighted their Research contributions, publications, and professional achievements, while students shared their academic distinctions, awards, commendations, and personal and professional milestones achieved during the year.

Principal’s Motivational Address

The most memorable segment of the assembly was the motivational address by Principal Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum, who connected her message with the scientific and mathematical identity of the three departments through the powerful equation:

E + R = O
Event + Response = Outcome

Explaining the equation, the Principal emphasised that events are often beyond our control, but our response to those events remains within our control. She highlighted that it is our response that ultimately influences and shapes the outcome.

To make the message more relatable, Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum shared the story of a man whose morning began with a spilled cup of tea before an important presentation. His frustration led to a series of further problems, including his dog escaping, delays on the journey and eventually arriving late and distressed at his destination.

The Principal then turned the story into a deeper reflection by asking the audience “Why did the tea spill?” A response from the Statistics faculty member — that the tea spilled because the cup contained tea — became the foundation of her message.

Prof. Dr. Iram Anjum explained that whatever is inside a cup is what spills when the cup is disturbed; similarly, whatever we carry within ourselves emerges when life puts us under pressure. If we carry frustration and impatience, these qualities may shape our reactions. If we cultivate composure, perspective, positivity, and resilience, these qualities can guide us towards better responses and outcomes.

Her message served as a powerful reminder to students that we may not always be able to control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. Through resilience, positivity, and emotional balance, individuals can influence the direction of their lives even in challenging circumstances.

Following her address, the Principal invited faculty and students to share their feedback and encouraged students to continue approaching her with their achievements, ideas and aspirations. Her remarks reflected her commitment to maintaining an open, supportive and connected academic community.

Open Discussion and AI Initiative

An open-floor session allowed faculty members to raise suggestions and concerns, particularly regarding laboratory facilities and emerging technologies such as machine learning. The Principal assured faculty that their concerns had been heard and that appropriate measures would be explored.

Vice Principal Dr. Kalsoom Akhtar appreciated the interactive format and announced an important initiative offering eight free AI-focused courses, along with the integration of AI-based methodologies into existing academic programmes. She encouraged faculty and students to embrace these opportunities and develop skills relevant to the rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence.

The assembly concluded with a vote of thanks by the Head Girl, followed by appreciation for the Principal, Vice Principal, faculty, and students for their active participation.

The Annual Departmental Assembly successfully combined *achievement, reflection, dialogue and inspiration, leaving students and faculty with a renewed sense of community and a powerful message: *while we cannot always control the event, we can always choose our response — and our response can shape the outcome.