Altaf Rao;
MIRPUR (AJK): Under the spirit to deliver quality higher education in line with the needs of modern age, the State-run Mirpur University of Science & Technology Mirpur (MUST) has planned to launch the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs in all the existing departments by the next academic session.
This was disclosed by Vice Chancellor of Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST) Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman (Sitara e Imtiaz) while speaking at the 3rd Convocation- 2018 of his varsity here on Wednesday.
AJK President Sardar Masood Khan, who is also the Chancellor of the public-sector universities in AJK including the MUST was the Chief guest on this occasion – who gave away degrees besides gold medals to the fresh scholars qualifying PHd, post graduation and graduation in various disciplines of engineering, science and technology and arts.
Registrar MUST Engr. Prof. Muhammad Waris Jiraal, Dean Science Prof. Dr. Rehana Asghar, Dean Engineering Prof. Dr. Anwar Khataab and Dean Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr. Maqsood Chaudhry announced the breakup of the fresh scholars qualifying degrees of doctorate, post graduation and gradation from their respective faculties, They also highlighted the performance of their respective faculties for producing the quality future generation through dispensation of the quality education in their respective fields. A total of 1274 scholars including 1 qualifying Ph. D, 111 Post graduates and 274 graduates belonging to various disciplines of science, technology, social and arts who qualified by successfully completing their studies were conferred with the degrees in the grand convocation which was attended by thousands of students of the varsity besides parents and eminent icons of the civil society, journalists and senior officials of the AJK government including Commissioner Mirpur Division Muhammad Tayyeb, DIG Police Mirpur div. Sardar Rashid Naeem, Vice Chancellors of the state run AJK University and Bagh University and heads of various nation-building institutions.
The VC Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman continued that the MUST varsity has decided to established its campus at Palandri in Poonch division launching the Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master’s degree classes by the forth coming session. The VC also referred to the varsity’s planning about shifting of some of the departments and administrative setup of the university to the new site after completion of the infrastructure in 2019.
Unveiling the salient features of the development of the Mirpur University of Science & Technology to ensure meet the needs of the local needs of the higher education in AJK, the Vice Chancellor said at present, Rs. 46.808 million worth seven research projects were being 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. Two research journals, the Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Collaboration with the ‘Cross Reference’, UK and the Journal of Peace and Progress, have been launched by the University, he added.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman continued that MUST has won a grant of Rs. 14.8 million for the establishment of Artificial Intelligence Laboratory through competition at the national level;57 universities applied for the funding while only 13 universities including the MUST won the grant for the establishment of the laboratory. Dr. Habib ur Rehman revealed that the University has, so far, produced 5478 graduates, 608 MS/ M.Phils and two Ph.Ds in the field of Biology. Today, 1259 degrees are being awarded including 852 BS and M.A./ M.Sc degrees, 111 MS/ M.Phil degrees and 1 Ph.D degree while 35 graduates will be decorated with Gold Medals, 259 degrees of BA/ B.Sc./ B.Com and MA will also be awarded to the students of the affiliated institutions.
“Our efforts are directed at making the MUST as one of the best University 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”, the VC said..
Dr. 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”, he underlined.
The Vice Chancellor said that the University has scored 91.50 points in the league table position in the HEC Quality Guide 2017. The sharp improvement in the quality guide from 41.30 in 2013 to 91.52 in 2017 is unprecedented achievement. All such achievements are a result of hard work of the Deans, Directors/ Chairpersons, Faculty Members and staff of the university. We will continue working hard for the wholesome development of the University. I would like to appreciate the QEC staff for their intelligent work and making the score table moving up. I must congratulate the faculty, staff and particularly students as they are the real beneficiary.
“We understand that our success will be determined by the quality of our graduates. We are committed to providing a unique teaching and learning experience for our students. The extensive inclusion of work integrated learning ensures that our university produces highly qualified and trained graduates. It has been a great source of pride to see our staff and students recognized for their outstanding achievements during the last year. Our research strength is helping to build collaborative engagement with industry, business and government partners.
Dr. Habb ur Rehman said “I consider faculty as heart and soul of the University. We are blessed with 65 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. The number of Ph.D faculty members increased three times, from 23 in 2013 to 66 in 2017”. He said “Our faculty members are second to none. During the last year they have published 336 research papers in journals of international repute,90 %more than 2013 and 60 % more than the previous year. They have also presented their research work in the international and national conferences. We are conscious that our research should be directed at solving local problems and finding their scientific solutions by exploiting indigenous resources”. Fr. Rehman said that the Department of Civil Engineering studied and identified the actual cause of the slope failure of the Mangla Dam atthe Mirpur-Kotli road. The University provided the technical assistance for protection and safety of the dam.The department has also provided consultancy services to carry out safe, realistic and economical design of the Potha-Bensi landslide. The university provided all these services at a very low cost to protect the lives and properties of thousands of people living downstream.
Referring to the steps for enhancing the quality skills of the faculty members, the VC said that the Varsity was providing ample opportunities to our faculty members and staff for their participation in national and international conferences and training workshops. So far, 53 faculty and 29 staff members have availed the facility of training at national level and 3 faculty members and 2 staff members at international level.
“We have been heavily investing in the human resource development, 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”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor said that the Varsity have strengthened the laboratories of the faculty of engineering technology and science and provided funding for development of necessary facilities for the department of the faculty of arts to meet the requirements of the accreditation bodies and the HEC. During the year, Rs. 70 million spent on strengthening the laboratories of the engineering and science departments while another Rs. 20 million for strengthening the Department of Law, Department of Education and the MUST Business School. I am happy to report that all our departments have secured accreditation of the respective accreditation councils. We have started providing outcome base education to our students and developing the departments of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology further, following the directions of the PEC to meeting the criteria of the ‘Washington Accord’, he added.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman 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. With22 teaching departments/ institutes, the University is currently running 56 degree programs including core engineering, natural and important social sciences’ disciplines. The Center for Peace and Development is made functional. The Institute of Modern Languages is operational and the first batch of the Chinese language course has been completed. I must appreciate the faculty members who have made it happen, he added.
The VC said Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Center is working to providing training to the faculty, staff and professionals.Training workshops are being organized in the CPDCenter of the University. Professionals enroll themselves for updating their knowledge and skills.
He said he students of the University are fully involved in their academic and research pursuits. Presentations have been made mandatory in each discipline to develop presentation skills in students with a view to making our graduates able to present their knowledge, carry their degrees on their shoulders.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the MUST students participated in the event Techfest and Renaissance 2017 held on the 27th to 29th January, 2017 at the GIK Institute of Engineering Science and Technology and won the first prize in the Gravity Vehicle in SMEP all Pakistan event and Infovortex in SMEP all Pakistan event. One of our studentswon First Prize in All AJK Debating Contest held in Muzaffarabad. Similarly, our students also won respectable positions in the interuniversity sports competitions.
The Vice Chancellor revealed that the Students Financial Assistance Office has been working in the University for Management of the financial assistance programs for students and to execute the financial assistance schemes of the government/ HEC, universityand other agencies. The university has been providing six different types of scholarships to its students. We have been providing 278 HEC Need Based Scholarships besides 274 merit scholarships, 50 the University Need Based Scholarships, 65 HBL Foundation Scholarships each year to our students. Another 38 students have been awarded scholarships under the Guardian Insurance Scheme of the University and 10scholarships are being awarded by the Pakistan Scottish Scholarship Program. About 850 students are benefiting from the Prime Minister of Pakistan Fee Reimbursement Scheme each year while 550 students received laptops under the Prime Minister of Pakistan Laptop Scheme last year.
He said Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) is working in the university to managing, the research projects, promote innovation and commercialization and to developing links with industries. We have also provided Rs. 14 million to the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) for funding small research projects and developing university-industry linkages. The office is leading to preparing smart proposals for funding and has been successful in wining grants for carrying out research activities in the university.
The Graduate Placement Bureau has been working in the University to helping and facilitating the university students for finding internships, placements and jobs in the public and private sector organizations. So far, the bureau has secured internship and placements for more than 500 students and jobs for about 70 students.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the Students Counseling Center has also been working to providing the counseling services to the students. The services include the career counseling, psychological counseling and academic counseling. All such services are directed at the welfare of the university students and providing extra care to them and making the MUST as a ‘Students Focus’ University.
The Vice Chancellor said that the varsity have resurrected the co-curricular activities in the University and increased the frequency of such activities, so that each of our students may take part in the activities of his/ her choice.
The students’ councils, societies and clubs are set to function; students are fully involved in the co-curricular activities. The MUST will continue to nurture the intellectual and professional skills of our students and assist them in discovering themselves. All such efforts are directed at raising our students above subject level and making them good human beings, developing sense of competition and building character, he said.
He mentioned that the important elements of the university vision are – ensuring endorsement of the university by the community and securing recognition through contributions. To implement its vision, the university administration, faculty members and staff working to meet the expectations of all stakeholders and working to their satisfaction. The University staff, faculty members and students are involved in community service under different outreach programs which include; preparation of driving licenses for the Mirpur Division by the NTC, provision of consultancy services and material testing facilities to public and private sector institutions by the Department of Civil Engineering and Department of Chemistry, software development for the education department of the GoAJK, working with WWF and Environmental Protection Agency of AJK for safe environment, carrying out economic surveys in collaboration with the Forest Department of the GoAJK and development of the software for the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust.
The MUST has been providing the service in the area under the agreement now for three years with the Healthcare for All International, UK. The agreement has been extended for further five years.
He said that such services and activities are directed at strengthening the financial resources of the university and extending the blessings of the University to the society. The University is proud of its faculty, staff and student as their contributions towards development of society and nation are welcoming and unequivocal.
He said range of the university products have been launched. The Local community and Kashmiri Diaspora have been invited to extend their ownership to the university and contribute towards its development through the University products. All such efforts are also directed at diversifying and strengthening the financial resource of the university on one hand and encouraging the local community and Kashmiri Diaspora to involve themselves in the development of the university.
The project of the University is set to move. Hopefully some of our departments and administration setup will be shifted to the new site during 2019. Another project of Rs. 158.277 million for the establishment of Students Services Center which includes construction of Library, Café and Mosque has been approvedby the CDWP and tenders are being called.
The MUST has signed MoUs with different organizations and Universities which include Promotion of Education in Pakistan (PEP), USA for Students Advancement Fund Endowment (SAFE), the Research Institute of Pomology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China for the Establishment of the Sino-Pakistan Bilateral Cooperation on Pomology, the NILOP for Developing Joint Scientific Research and Technological Programs in Mutually Selected Areas, the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) for the Development of S&T Collaboration and to carry out joint research, SUPARCO for Pakistan National Students Satellite Program (PNSSP) to promote satellite technology and knowledge, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) for Conducting Workshops on Capacity Building and Social Entrepreneurship and AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industries to Enhance Collaboration in Development of Entrepreneurship and Industrial Skills.
The Vice Chancellor said that University has signed 8 MoUs with the universities of the OIC countries for scientific and educational cooperation. The university has also signed MoU with the Institute of Career Development (ICD), Islamabad for the establishment of Skills Development Center in the University including the facility for teaching of Chinese Language. This will help developing human resource to meet the CPEC projects’ requirements.
The Vice Chancellor also unveiled the future plans of the university include, starting the following degree programs from 2019 to 2024. These include Architectural and Design Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Material Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Political Science, International Relations, Mass Communication, Sociology and Rural Development and Statistics and Actuarial Science.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the varsity has also planned strengthening the i). Continuing Professional Development Center, ii) Business Incubation Center and iii) Consultancy Services during 2018-2019 and establishment of the i) Science and Technology Park, ii) Community Services Center, Institute of Modern Languages, Heritage and Tourism and iii) MUST Public School during 2019-2020
The Vice Chancellor said that the university organized a number of seminars, conferences, functions and important lectures during the last year.
“Other ceremonies held under the auspices of the MUST included Alumni Get Together Dinner, Lecturer on ‘Promoting Tolerance and Rejecting Extremism’, Seminar‘University-Media-Law Enforcement Agencies; Collaboration for Promoting Tolerance and Rejecting Extremism, Seminar on “Save Food – Fight Hunger”, Pakistan Independence Day celebrations on 14th August, 2017 in collaboration with the Special Communication Organization (SCO), Seminar on “Role of Kashmiri Diaspora for Projection of Kashmir Cause”, Celebration of ‘15 Years Celebrations of the HEC’ and Two Days Exhibition, Seminar on the “Role of Overseas Kashmiris for Kashmir Cause and Development of AJ&K”, the 10th Foundation Day of the MUST was observed on 27th March, 2018. A job fair was also organized on the occasion.
Distinguished, Innovations, Collaboration & Entrepreneurship (DICE) 2017, the IEEE International Conference on Power, Energy and Smart Grid (ICPESG-2018)
The Vice Chancellor said that University also organized “Great Debate” in collaboration with the British High Commission, lecture on Peace and Tolerance by the Renowned Novelist, Scriptwriter and Education Consultant, Ms. Qaisra Shahraz from the UK.
Besides, the lecture on “Women Empowerment and Contribution in Economic Growth in AJK” by Ms. Sumaira Farrukh, Chairperson BTM Global, Welfare Organization for Women Empowerment, Peace Ambassador World Federation Women Peace held last month, lecturer titled, “How to move towards practical life and contribute towards economic growth of the AJK” by Ms. Durdana Ansari, UK,
Seminar on on the CPEC – One Road Concept, Seminar on “Growing Menace of Plastic Bags”, All Pakistan Mushaira-2018, Seminar on Road Safety/ Traffic Rules Awareness on the 3rd April, 2018.
The VC further said that PC-I for the establishment of another Girls Hostel including Bachelor Hostel for females, Residence Laboratory for the Department of Home Economics, Fitness Center for Females and University Products Display Center.
He said that PC-I for the Phase-II of the University development and planned submitting the same to the HEC for further processing during fourth quarter of the 2018.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that the progress and achievements of the MUST during 2017 reflect its potential for a successful future in the fields of education and research.
The VC said that he was confident that the education imparted by the University will enable you face the world with dignity and honor. You have to pursue the highest moral principles. So be men and women of character, integrity and faith; upholding in all circumstances, truth, justice and fair-play because these values make you a blessing for the society and mankind. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Dream big dreams then work hard to make them true. There is no joy better than the joy of learning. If you want to predict the future, go invent it.