Description
You will be pleased to learn that the examiners were very complimentary about the work of Mrs. Ahmad, which they described in their report as "an original and accomplished analysis of new data, which provides ample evidence of independent critical ability, and whose presentation is exemplary".
This very positive judgement bears out my own assessment of Mrs. Ahmad's work. Over the course of her time at Leeds she has developed into a first rate social scientist, with the ability to investigate a variety of different types of data and source material, to separate the essential from the inessential, and to relate her findings to an international corpus of theoretical and practical writing in her chosen field. These of course are also qualities that are highly relevant to her further career in the civil service. She has also proved herself enormously hardworking. conscientious and committed to her profession. I regard her as someone with the ability and character to go to the very top of her profession, if given the opportunity to do so.
The examiners also confirmed my own view that the work merit publication as it stands, either in article or book form, or both; and that it would make a substantial contribution to the existing literature. All I would add myself is the hope that some of her findings could be given wider dissemination, in view of their social-scientific importance.
Finally, let me say what a pleasure it has been to work with Mrs. Ahmad, and how rare it is to have a student who is both so eager to learn and also so independent in her own judgement. It is experiences like this that help consolidate the valuable ties between the two countries.
