The more, the merrier: GCU set to introduce seven new programmes

Programmes approved in meeting of academic council .

LAHORE:

The Government College University is set to introduce seven postgraduate programmes this year including an LLM in forensic justice and an MS in child guidance and educational counselling.

The new programmes were approved in a meeting of the varsity’s academic council on Saturday. Vice Chancellor Khaleequr Rahman chaired the meeting. The admissions criteria, credit hours, number of seats, fee structures and other relevant rules and regulations were also approved on the occasion. The other programmes being introduced include an MSc in chemistry, an MA in Islamic studies, a postgraduate diploma in child and adult psychotherapy and a certificate for professionals in hypnosis.

Registrar Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh said the programmes being introduced were placed before the academic council after being approved by relevant boards of studies and faculties. Rehman said all arrangements on this account had been completed. He said the programmes would be introduced this year after they were approved by the varsity’s syndicate. Rehman said the approval of the Pakistan Bar Council would be sought regarding the initiation of the LLM programme. He said students wishing to enrol on the programme would have to appear for the Graduate Assessment Test. Rehman said the varsity’s political science, law and chemistry departments had collaborated over the programme as education had essentially become multidisciplinary in nature. He said the academic council had decided that the programme would be offered in the evenings to facilitate practising lawyers interested in enrolling on the course.

Rehman said the university had introduced 27 new programmes over the last three years. He said these included PhD in computer science, PhD in applied physics, PhD in Islamic studies, MPhil in applied physics, MS in industrial psychology, MSc in physical education and MS in geography. Rehman said provision of scholarships, accommodation, transport, laboratories, lecture theatres, meeting rooms and examination centres had been increased due to the expected increase in student numbers following the introduction of the programmes. He said amendments and additions to the syllabus of various programmes had also been approved in the meeting. Rehman said the varsity would strive to ensure that the new programmes were conducted by noted academics.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2015.