The 11th Panchen Lama (middle) takes photo with monks with "Tho Ram Pa" degree, one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism, May 18, 2014.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

The 11th Panchen Lama presents hada to the Qingjing Huacheng Huacheng Pagoda in the Xihuang Lama Temple, May 18, 2014.[Photo/China Tibet Online] 

BEIJING, May 18 (China Tibet Online) The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, on May 18th blessed monks with intermediate and advanced level Tibetan Buddhism degrees by conducting a head-touching ritual in the Xihuang Temple of Beijing.

Eleven monks students of the Gelug Sect and Kagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism received the "Tho Ram Pa" degree, one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism, and twenty-three monk students of the Jonang Sect received the "Nzhing Ram Ba" degree, the middle-level academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism, on May 17.

The monks in the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China received their degrees after passing exams, defending their dissertations and being interviewed by a judging committee made up of respected monks.

The 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 holds religous ritual in the Xihuang Temple, May 18, 2014. [Photo/China Tibet Online] 

The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, blesses monks with intermediate and advanced level Tibetan Buddhism degrees by conducting a head-touching ritual in the Xihuang Temple of Beijing, May 18, 2014.[Photo/China Tibet Online]