Mirpur:Â (Parliament Times) Stressing that future of nations hinges on promotion of education; President Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan has said all possible steps are being taken for development of education sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the Senate meeting of Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) he said that universities play a pivotal role to make the students responsible and useful citizen of a country. He urged the management of MUST to ensure that the university is imparting quality education to its students.
Others members of the University Senate, Syed Shahid Mohid-ud-Din, Secretary Higher Education, Prof Dr Muhammad Khan (NDU), Prof Dr Riaz Hussain Querashi, representative of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Engineer Nadeem Ashraf, General Manager Power Wing of NESPAK, Dr Muhammad Riaz Mughal, Dean Engineering MUST, Muneer Ahmed Chaudhry Director QEC, Engineer Muhammad Shabir Mirza, Dr Zahoor Ahmed and Syed Kashif Hussain Shah were also present on the occasion.
The President said all necessary steps are being taken to improve the quality of education and make it compatible to the needs and challenges of the time. He urged the management of all the universities in AJK to take all requisite measures for enhancing rating of their institutions according to the bench mark set by Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The president advised the members of the faculty to mould themselves as role models for their students so that they follow their footprints. President who is also chancellor of the university directed that those among the teaching staff had failed to resume their duties after completing their education from foreign universities should be removed from service with penalty to reimburse all the expenses incurred on their studies abroad.
He expressed his dismay that none of the five universities of AJK is among the top ten universities of HEC rating list and directed the management of MUST to enhance its rating. President Masood also directed to ensure merit in the admission and discipline in the university.
Earlier in his detailed input, the Vice Chancellor further informed the Senate that since  the Universities perform the basic role in the speedy progress and prosperity of the nations and the countries, the MUST use to review the quality of the syllabus – time-and again, studied in the varsity, keeping in view the needs of the modern era, he added.
Dr. Habib ur Rehman said that in view  of the above, the MUST  has primarily focused to produce the high-quality graduates including those enriched with more higher studies  in various disciplines falling in science and technology – so that they could perform their due role for the due economic progress and prosperity through their high intellect and pen after completing their studies.
The Vice Chancellor underlined his ongoing  priorities to expand and develop the MUST  on latest lines to enter in the ranks of the world-repute universities through the delivery of quality education to its students. He said that the students will also have to be enriched with the due skills besides the degree through focusing their full attention to be acquainted and benefited of the quality education which the varsity was striving hard to deliver.
Dr. Rehman further said that the students will have to be equipped with the professional skills and the knowledge of latest technology  to perform their due active role in their future professional life after completing their studies.
The VC said that the varsity management has focused to improve the teaching environment for the guidance of the students. “It is my untiring move to further improve the  already-available conducive  environment for the delivery of quality studies at par with that available in the world-class varsitiesâ€, he pointed out.
Dr. Rehman emphasized for establishing a strong grip over almost all disciplines and prongs of the studies  of Science and Technology  to meet the challenges of 21st century. “We can successfully enter the ranks of the developed nations provided we win the spirit of promoting and enriching the new generation quality education in line with the needs of the modern ageâ€, he added.