High achievers given medals at IUB

‘Islamia University of Bahawalpur was ranked 11th by the HEC this year’

BAHAWALPUR: The Islamia University of Bahawalpur held a ceremony on Monday to give medals to students who had performed well in the recent examinations. Minister Baligh-ur-Rehman was the chief guest.

Education is the provincial government’s top priority, he said. A record-high budget has been announced for the sector and funds to the Higher Education Commission have considerably increased. “These steps will bring out a significant change in the quality of education provided to students in the province.”

Rehman lauded the university’s vice chancellor for introducing outstanding academic, administrative and fiscal reforms. The university had stood 11th in the recent ranking of universities in Pakistan, according to the Higher Education Commission. “The IUB jumped 40 points in one year,” the minister said.

He paid tribute to the university instructors. “Candidates for teaching positions are hired on merit after passing several selection boards,” he said. Rehman said this showed the IUB’s commitment to improving the standard of education in the region.

The government had focused its attention to developing academia in Bahawalpur, he said.

The Government Sadiq College Women University had been allocated 125 acres of land. Development work was underway at the Veterinary and Livestock University near Bahawalpur, he said.

The Higher Education Commission was working to establish a university campus in every district, said the minister.

Vice Chancellor Qaiser Mushtaq said the university’s faculty was working to change the university’s culture by creating a congenial environment to faculty, employees and students.

A regular academic calendar has been enforced, he said. “Admissions in fall and spring semesters have doubled since then.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.