A woman at the fine arts exhibition at GCU. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) Lahore has approved the appointment of senior faculty members, including professors and distinguished professors, besides sanctioning a new academic programme of BA (Hons) in Sociology.
With these new appointments, the total number of professors has increased to 19, distinguished professors to seven, associate professors to 38 and assistant professors to 134. Just a year ago, the university had been facing a severe dearth of senior faculty.
The varsity syndicate, in its 54th meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah on Saturday, gave its assent to the induction of five eminent academicians, including renowned philosopher, novelist and playwright Prof Dr Mirza Ather Baig as a distinguished professor. Prof Baig’s fiction work ‘Ghulam Bagh’ is considered one of the central works of Urdu literature.
The other distinguished professors appointed were Prof Dr Saadat Saeed for Urdu, Prof Dr Aminul Haq Khan and Prof Dr Zaheeruddin Khan for botany and Prof Dr Muhammad Sharif Mughal for zoology.
The GCU Syndicate also approved the selection of renowned economist Prof Dr Anjum Nasim on Dr Mehboobul Haq Chair by the search committee. The chair had been vacant since 2006.
Prof Nasir holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from London School of Economics and a PhD from University of Essex, UK. He has held various senior positions at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
The university also inducted four full professors – Dr Salamat Ali for physics, Dr Mujahid Abbas for mathematics, Dr Muhammad Zahid Qureshi for chemistry and Dr Ali Iqtidar Mirza for geography.
Dr Hafiz Muhammad Naeem, Dr Jamal Abdul Nasir and Erfanullah Babar were appointed associate professors at Islamic studies, statistics and fine arts departments, respectively. The syndicate also sanctioned the appointment of Dr Khalid Sanjarni, as the associate professor of Urdu literature on tenure track.
The GCU also revived the statutory promotions of faculty members on seniority basis; the system which was held back for more than six years.
The promotion of nine lecturers to assistant professors was also approved. Those promoted were Uzma Hanif, Saba Ibrahim, Mahrukh Nishat, Azhar Ifthikar, Saima Jabeen, Muhammad Altafur Rehman, Sadia Rafique, Naseer Ahmad Taib and Nadeem Zafar.
Keeping in view the increasing strength of female students, staff and faculty members, the university also appointed Dr Aqsa Shahbaz as the female medical officer whereas Deputy Registrar (Academic) Babar Ali Khan and Deputy Controller of Examinations Shahzad were promoted as additional registrar and additional controller, respectively.
The syndicate approved the eligibility criteria for admissions to the four-year BA (Hons) in Sociology and also its curriculum while consenting to the amendments and additions to the curriculum of various existing academic programmes of the university.
The new faculty members would be given 15 days from the issuance of the appointment notification to join the offices. Admissions to BA (Hons) in Sociology would open in August.
Women’s week celebrations
A fine arts exhibition featuring 36 paintings, posters, sketches and photographs on the theme of ‘Unveiling Her’ was opened at the GCU campus for the Women’s Week celebrations.
The artworks focus on women’s rights, empowerment, workplace harassment and violence against women.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2017.
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