Mirpur:Â (Parliament Times) AJK President Sardar Muhammad Masood has called upon United Nations, International Red Cross and global human rights organizations to send their fact- finding missions to monitor inhuman atrocities of Indian forces against innocent people of Occupied Kashmir.
Addressing as chief guest at annual Convocation of Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) he said it is moral responsibility of global community to play its role for cessation of human rights violations and use of pellet guns against the peaceful demonstrators in the occupied territory. AJK President said Indian occupying forces in Kashmir are violating international norms by flagrantly violating human rights of Kashmiri people, making young people blind and keeping them behind the bars without trial. He urged the students of the university to expose Indian barbarities before the world by using traditional and social media.
Terming the students as future of the nation, President Masood urged them to pursue their studies with dedication and commitment to meet the challenges of the time. He said universities in AJK including MUST will have to strive hard to bring the quality and standard of education at par with the global universities and compatible to the requirement of the time. Commenting on China Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said project will play a pivotal role in socio-economic development of AJK and prosperity of the people of the region. He added that AJK has been made part of CPEC and disclosed that M-3 Motorway would be constructed under CPEC to connect Mansehra with Muzaffarabad and Muzaffarabad with Mirpur. He said that Eighth Industrial Zone under CPEC would be setup in Bhimber district of Azad Kashmir.
Elaborating the extra performance of Mirpur University of Science & Technology in providing quality higher education in a short span of time since its inception in 2009, the Vice Chancellor said despite several odds and difficult times, we have been developing the University to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. All our efforts are directed at making the MUST as one of the best Universities of Pakistan. The HEC standards for admission to the M.Phil and Ph.D degree programs have been implemented. We have also implemented the HEC criteria for appointments of the faculty. I take this opportunity to ensure that we would continue leading the university on the path of progress by implementing the policies of the government and the HEC, he added.
Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that University is committed to providing quality higher education to its students. It has taken important measures to improve the quality of education. We have developed methods to evaluate the quality of the degree programs and enforced measurable standards, so that quality may be ascertained. A quality enhancement cell has been working in the University and all stakeholders have been involved in the evaluation process. All these measures are directed at improving the quality of education in the University. I am happy to report that the University ranked ‘W’ in the HEC University Quality Guide 2016 with above 85% score. I must congratulate the faculty, staff and particularly students as they are the real beneficiary. I also offer special thanks to QEC staff for their intelligent work and making the score table moving up.The Vice Chancellor underlined that the  establishment of the MUST was directed at providing the higher education facilities to the youth of the State including Kashmiri diaspora and adjoining areas of Pakistan. With 22 teaching departments/ institutes, the University is currently running 56 degree programs including core engineering, natural and important social sciences’ disciplines. The Center for Peace Development and Institute of Modern Languages has been established. The university has also planed establishing the MUST Production House, School of Heritage and Tourism and Distance Learning Centre. The Continuous Professional Development Centre has also been established. Professionals are welcome to enroll themselves, update their knowledge and skills.
He revealed that the University has, so far, produced 4236graduates, 405 MS/ M.Phils and its First ever Ph.D. in the field of Biotechnology. Today, 1636 degrees are being awarded including 1500 BS and M.A./ M.Sc. degrees, 135 MS/M.Phil. degrees and  Ph.D. degree while 50 graduates will be decorated with Gold Medals.
Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman announced that the honorary degree, Doctor of Letters has been awarded to the veteran Kashmiri Leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelan, Chairman, All Parties Hurriayat Conference and founder Chairman, Tahreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir,for his unprecedented and life long struggle for the right of self determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This has bestowed the unique honor for the university. As he is not able to receive the degree by himself due to restrictions imposed by the Indian government, he has nominated Honorable Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Convener All Parties Hurriayat Conference, AJK Chapter, to receive the degree on his behalf. We thank him for making his gracious presence. On this occasion, we condemn the Indian brutalities against innocent Kashmiri people and continuing human right violations by the occupied forces in the Indian Held Kashmir, he added.
The VC said important elements of our university vision are – ensuring endorsement of the university by the community and securing recognition through contributions. To implement its vision, we are about to launch teachers training programs in different fields of studies under the aegis of the HEC. The training workshops will impart necessary training to college teachers in the subject of their choice. Besides organizing training workshops for the college teachers, we have made obligatory for our university students to teach in schools and colleges at least 12 hours during their degree course. Our students will be available to teach for about 6000 hours per year provided such free facility is requested.
Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman further said that he consider faculty as heart and soul of the University. We are blessed with 61 Ph.D faculty members, 164 M. Phils and 88 MA/ M.Sc. Most of the MS/ M. Phil faculty members are enrolled for Ph.D and Masters for the MS/ M. Phil degree programs. Our faculty members are second to none. One of our faculty members, Dr. Rehana Asghar received the National Civil Award,Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 2015 while Dr. Anwar Khitab and Mr. Waqas Anwar authored a book titled, ‘Advanced Research on Nanotechnology for Civil Engineering Applications’ published in 2016 by the IGI,USA, he added.
The Vice Chancellor underlined that at  present, 03 research projects of Rs. 13.808 million are being undertaken in different departments of the University. These projects have greatly enhanced the research activities of the respective departments and will go a long way in developing research culture in the University. The first ever research journal of the university titled, MUST Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences is being launched in Collaboration with the ‘Cross Reference’, UK.
“We have also been providing ample opportunities to our faculty members and staff for their participation in national and international training. So far our 51 faculty members and 27 staff members have availed the facility of training at national level and 2 faculty members and 2 staff members at international level”, Dr. Rehman said. We have been heavily investing in the HRD, allocated 90 scholarships for higher studies, 32 scholars have completed their higher studies in different disciplines, 21 are on board, 13 have received their final award letters and remaining 24 are in the selection process
