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Islamia University short of faculty, funds
BAHAWALPUR, Jan 9(Dawn): The Islamia University is short of faculty and funds,
governor and chancellor Khalid Maqbool was informed on Monday. He was given a
presentation by IUB vice-chancellor Dr Bilal A Khan about the varsity's academic
and physical infrastructure projects at its Abbasia Campus.
The VC told
the governor that the varsity had started semester system in its 17 departments
out of the total 42. He said the varsity had established its five campuses,
including one each in Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.
The VC said out of
the varsity's 1,124 computers, only half were P-III and P-IV, while others were
first-generation machines which had become outdated. In a lighter vein, he said
those computers could be donated to a primary school.
Dr Khan said the
varsity had a total strength of some 700 teachers, including around 400
appointed on contract basis. He said the lecturers appointed on a contract basis
would be regularised after formal interviews at the completion of one-year
probation period. Still, he said, the university was grossly deficient with
regard to the faculty strength.
The VC also deplored that the varsity had
not received funds even for the approved projects and delay was hampering
development work. The governor assured him that the funds had been released and
would soon reach the university.
During the presentation, the governor
Khalid Maqbool asked the Quaid-i-Azam Medical College/Bahawal Victoria Hospital
principal to allow the IUB pharmacy students to undergo practical training at
his campus.
Earlier, the pharmacy students had complained to the governor
that they were not being allowed the facility during his visit to the Faculty of
Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine.
On another request, the governor also
asked the principal to allow College of Veterinary and Animal Science's students
to use varsity's physiology and biochemistry labs. The principal readily agreed
to accommodate the IUB students at its pharmacy, physiology and biochemistry
labs.
During a visit to the Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine,
the governor also assured the pharmacy students that he would take steps for
setting up a small clinical unit at the varsity for practical training of
students.
At industrial and pharmaceutical technology lab, the governor
also suggested that the varsity should set up a small pharmaceutical
manufacturing unit in collaboration with the private sector.
Speaking at
the briefing session, the governor stressed that the varsities must ensure
development of their students' personalities and their communication skills,
besides training their faculties through seminars, workshops and foreign
scholarships for higher studies.
Mr Maqbool said the government had
already decided that next admissions to universities would be made on the basis
of entrance tests to be conducted by the National Testing
Service.
Referring to the ongoing development projects, the governor
stressed that the university administration must utilise funds efficiently.
The governor also asked the VC to involve the Virtual University and
Allama Iqbal Open University at its out of city campuses. He also asked the
varsity administration to install water filtration plants for the provision of
safe drinking water to students.
Meanwhile, the governor inaugurated
Islamia University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in
Bahawalpur.
The college has been established in a rented building on
governor's directive. The new building for the college will cost Rs590 million.
On the occasion, the governor announced Rs20 million for the college.
The
governor, who returned to Lahore after an extensive visit to various IU
departments at its Abbasia (Old) and Khawaja Farid (Railway Road) campuses, will
again reach Bahawalpur on Tuesday (today) to visit the Baghdad-ul-Jadid campus,
where he will inaugurate an FM radio station at the Mass Communication
department.
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| Education News | | Updated: 08 Feb, 2012 |
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