KIU 10-member delegation headed by vice-chancellor visits PU

LAHORE : (Friday, January 15, 2010): A 10-member delegation of the principal officers of Karakoram International University (KIU) Gilgat-Baltistan, headed by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Najma Najam, visited the Punjab University and called on Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran in his office on Wednesday.

The delegation visited PU to explore areas of academic collaboration. Dr Najma Najam expressed her desire to have academic linkages with PU in the fields of biological sciences, fine arts, information technology and other areas. She said our University was a young University which was established only seven years ago. Her delegation's visit also aimed at orientation and learning from PU administration, examination system and other departments, she added.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran briefed the delegation about the university's four campuses, 13 faculties, 73 departments/institutes as well as constituent colleges. He told the delegation that PU was specially focusing on its faculty development programme and PhD programme. He said before the year 2007, on average 35 to 55 scholars did PhD from the University annually, 77 in 2007, 105 in 2008 and 126 scholars in 2009 from PU. He said the yearly number of PhDs was increasing due to special emphasis of his administration, on the vitally important faculty development programme.

Controller Examinations Dr Zahid Karim Khan told the delegation that PU conducts 205 exams under annual examination system and the largest examination was BA/BSc examination in which about 0.2 million students appeared. 590 examination centres have been established across the Punjab province. He said PU examination system has been made very efficient and result is declared within three and a half months. He said this year PU had started supplementary exam of MA/MSc to save precious time of students.

Treasurer Amjad Saleemi briefed the delegation about the annual budget of the University including expenditures.

The delegation also went round various sections of Examinations Department, Main Library, Institute of Business & Information Technology (IBIT) and College of Information Technology . In Main Library the delegation specially took keen interest in the manuscripts preserved by the University. In IBIT, the delegation was received by Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar and a presentation about the Institute's academic programmes was also given in the seminar room of the Institute.