Strengthening ties: AUST to launch Chinese study centre
Varsity to initiate depts of multiple disciplines for career counseling
Abbottabad University of Science and Technology. PHOTO COURTESY: DR AYUB JADOON
ABBOTABAD:
A Chinese study centre will be launched at Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST) soon. The decision to establish the centre has been taken in view of Hazara Division’s significance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During a visit to the varsity on Monday, AUST Registrar Dr Ayub Jadoon told The Express Tribune, China’s relations with Pakistan have stood the test of time and trust. “China’s contribution to Pakistan’s economy, especially its decision to use the soil of Hazara Division for CPEC, will play a pivotal role in strengthening the bond between both countries,” he said.
AUST administration has decided to teach Chinese and include courses and programmes on China’s cultural milieu in its curriculum. Jadoon said AUST will offer these programmes as short diploma courses and Bachelor’s of Science and master’s
level degrees.
“Learning Chinese will help Pakistani students learn more about the history, culture and traditions of China,” he said. “It will augment the decades-old relations between Pakistan and China.”
Catering to youth
According to Jadoon, AUST will also introduce new disciplines and departments such as food technology, chemical sciences and a plethora of courses in engineering sciences at the varsity.
“This will ensure there will be plenty of job opportunities for students,” he added. Jadoon said AUST had recently launched a society to provide career counselling to students.
“Lack of proper career counselling has cost the country brain drain – a sign of a weak developing economy,” he said, adding AUST will help young people get the best job opportunities within the province and the country.
Hitches, no glitches
The registrar said the Havelian Campus of Hazara University (HU) was granted the status of a university under AUST by the provincial government in June 2015.
“This means that AUST, which only had nine departments before this decision, now has 37 departments,” he said. According to Jadoon, it will pave the way for the formation of a new higher education institute which could obtain a better ranking among universities in Pakistan.
“Higher Education Commission officials are scheduled to visit AUST this month,” he said. “They will examine arrangements at the varsity and ensure all requirements are met before a no-objection certificate (NoC) was issued for formally changing the status of Havelian Campus of HU to AUST.”
He added while the university was facing a shortage of faculty members in some departments, it was qualified enough to be issued an NoC.
Jadoon said there were over 220 researchers enrolled for MPhil and PhD programmes in different departments at AUST, including pharmacy, psychology, software engineering and microbiology.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2016.
A Chinese study centre will be launched at Abbottabad University of Science and Technology (AUST) soon. The decision to establish the centre has been taken in view of Hazara Division’s significance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During a visit to the varsity on Monday, AUST Registrar Dr Ayub Jadoon told The Express Tribune, China’s relations with Pakistan have stood the test of time and trust. “China’s contribution to Pakistan’s economy, especially its decision to use the soil of Hazara Division for CPEC, will play a pivotal role in strengthening the bond between both countries,” he said.
AUST administration has decided to teach Chinese and include courses and programmes on China’s cultural milieu in its curriculum. Jadoon said AUST will offer these programmes as short diploma courses and Bachelor’s of Science and master’s
level degrees.
“Learning Chinese will help Pakistani students learn more about the history, culture and traditions of China,” he said. “It will augment the decades-old relations between Pakistan and China.”
Catering to youth
According to Jadoon, AUST will also introduce new disciplines and departments such as food technology, chemical sciences and a plethora of courses in engineering sciences at the varsity.
“This will ensure there will be plenty of job opportunities for students,” he added. Jadoon said AUST had recently launched a society to provide career counselling to students.
“Lack of proper career counselling has cost the country brain drain – a sign of a weak developing economy,” he said, adding AUST will help young people get the best job opportunities within the province and the country.
Hitches, no glitches
The registrar said the Havelian Campus of Hazara University (HU) was granted the status of a university under AUST by the provincial government in June 2015.
“This means that AUST, which only had nine departments before this decision, now has 37 departments,” he said. According to Jadoon, it will pave the way for the formation of a new higher education institute which could obtain a better ranking among universities in Pakistan.
“Higher Education Commission officials are scheduled to visit AUST this month,” he said. “They will examine arrangements at the varsity and ensure all requirements are met before a no-objection certificate (NoC) was issued for formally changing the status of Havelian Campus of HU to AUST.”
He added while the university was facing a shortage of faculty members in some departments, it was qualified enough to be issued an NoC.
Jadoon said there were over 220 researchers enrolled for MPhil and PhD programmes in different departments at AUST, including pharmacy, psychology, software engineering and microbiology.
Jadoon said all requirements of merit were observed in the recent hiring process and candidates were tested for their qualification and experience through Education Testing and Evaluation Agency which was endorsed and appreciated by HEC. He said the varsity administration has constructed a few blocks owing to a shortage of classrooms. Construction work on other blocks is under way.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2016.