The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu conducted a ritual to bless Tibetan Buddhism scholars, all monks graduating from the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Eleven of the monks in attendance received the "Tho Ram Pa" degree, one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism, after taking exams, defending their dissertations and being interviewed by a judging committee from May 10 to 17.

The "Tho Ram Pa" degree system was launched in 2004 in an effort to improve the study of Tibetan Buddhism and the training of outstanding monks by incorporating elements of modern education.

The 11th Panchen Lama asked the monks to further their study, protect the country and make efforts to benefit the people.