HEC Chairman announces Rs.4 billion grant for SindhUniversity

Hyderabad, Aug 03, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- GEEN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof. Dr. Attaurehman while announcing Rs.4 billion grant for University of Sindh for faculty development and infrastructure on Saturday said that only education is a strong base for development of the nation.

He was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of newly constructed building of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering University of Sindh Jamshoro today funded by HEC. After inauguration of the building, addressing the University scholars Dr. Rehman appreciated Sindh university achievements in higher education and said that this University has played a leading role in introducing all reforms specified by the Higher Education Commission for the higher education.

He also lauded contribution of Vice Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui in introducing HECs reforms and research oriented activities in the University and said that University of Sindh has grown its admissions more than 100 percent as well as faculty development.

He said that HEC would continue its efforts for development of Higher Education in the Country.

HEC Chairman said that today we are living in e-knowledge based society and added that the country without resources would be lacking behind other nations.

He said that there is huge change in the world and added that we have been living in a open global village.

He said that there are 120 Universities in Tokyo alone and 1000 Universities in Japan and added that that GDP of Japan on education is equal to GDP on education of entire Islamic World. He said that there is allocation of Rs.254 billion on education which includes educational institutes of provinces and federal and added that only 11 % of the allocated funding has been spending on the Higher Education.

He said that the different countries of world like Korea, China and many others have been spending three parts of funds on lower education and one part on Higher Education from allocated funds. He said that real problem in higher education is not infrastructure but real problem we have been facing shortage of qualified faculty with Ph.D and added that out of 16000 faculty we have only 3500 Ph.D teachers in Universities. He said that Universities at International level are judged to create new knowledge.

He said that for the international ranking of the Universities more weightage is on creation of knowledge, Ph.D, out put of research projects and added that for that purpose the Universities should follow the international path.

He said that HEC has been spending more than 60% funds for the faculty development and to send faculty members abroad for Ph.D. He said that previously different Countries were awarding scholarships to our students and added that he told the government that it is not job of theirs but it is job the government to scholarships to our own children from our own funds. He said that HEC had set a valuable tradition and awarded Ph.D scholarship to talented youth and added that among them 45 scholars return back with Ph.D last year and in next year 450 scholars would returning back after having Ph.D degrees.

Dr Attaurehman said that Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering discipline is most important discipline and added that this discipline is useful for fulfillment of human need and agriculture sector for more productive.

He said that Universities are to produce people to create jobs but not seek jobs and added that the Universities should produce very competent youth to play their role in country development. The HEC Chairman announced Rs. 4 Billion for the University of Sindh and advised to submit PC-I within one month and added that out of Rs.4 Billion, Rs.1.8 Billion will be allocated for faculty development to send 200 youth abroad for Ph.D and Rs.2.2 Billion will be for the buildings and infrastructure.

Talking to journalists later, Prof. Attaurehman said that Pakistan has been facing financial crunch in now a days and hoped that this financial crisis would be an ended.

Answering about financial cut on recurring budget of the Universities he said that on May,12 in a presentation to prime minister about financial problem he had directed concerned authorities for continuous support to education. He said that standard of education in the Universities of Pakistan has been improving and added that 6 Universities of Islamic World including 3 Universities of Pakistan are among top 500 Universities of world and added that inclusion in ranking with 100 top Universities it will take 10 to 15 years time. Sindh University Vice Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui speaking on the occasion said that the University has been able to implement almost all reforms specified by HEC to improve academic quality, it adopted 4-year bachelors degree program in 2003 and has updated its syllabi.

He said that number of faculty with doctoral degree has gone up to 125 from 92 in 2002 and added that University has introduced seven new disciplines covering emerging sciences which includes Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Anthropology and Archeology, Art and Design and Music education, Five Year D. Pharmacy and teaching department of Law and LL.M classes. He said that six departments have been raised to the status of Institutes to enable them to enhance their research endeavor. He said that seventy teachers have been provided scholarships for Ph.D studies in U.K and Australia and added that the University funded 30 of these scholarships from its own faculty development program while HEC provided funds for 40 scholarships under the University Mega Project.

He said that Universitys Post doctoral research program has been strengthened and as a result 69 M.Phil and 99 Ph.D degrees have been awarded during the last six years.

Siddiqui said that University established academic linkages with a number of foreign Universities in U.K, China, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and Uganda to facilitate exchange of scholars and researchers.

Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering University of Sindh Dr. M. Umer Dahot speaking on the occasion said that Centre for Advanced Studies in Biotechnology was established in January 2002 and status of Centre was upgrade to the present status as Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in April 2003.

Dr. Dahot said that necessity of Biotechnology was felt years back and in this regard Enzyme and Fermentation Biotechnology Research Laboratory was established in 1989 and M. Sc. Biotechnology was introduced in 2000 in the Institute of Chemistry. He further said that to date, ten Ph.D. and five M. Phil degrees have been awarded while four more Ph.D. scholars are engaged in writing their dissertation after completion of research. Dr. Dahot said that Eleven Research Projects have been successfully completed and the work on four research projects is in progress which were sponsored by University of Sindh , HEC and other institutes.

Highlighting about functions of the Institute Dr. Dahot said that presently Institute is offering degrees in the field of Biotechnology such as M.Sc., M..Phil & Ph.D. and Genetics such as BS four years and MS Two Years degree and added that Institute also organized four International symposia have been organized and the researchers/Scientists from China, Iran, Egypt, Russia and Bangladesh have participated in these symposiums. About research activities of the Institute Prof. Dahot said that 4 research projects have been completed by Institute which were sponsored by the University and HEC and added that at present work is in progress on 04 Research projects sponsored by University and Pakistan Agriculture Research Council.

The HEC Chairman on the occasion visited other institutes and departments of the University. The event was attended by research scholars, academicians, Deans, Directors, faculty members and students.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index