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NED Convocation: DUHS semester system
NED to honour two PhDs on Convocation Day
Karachi, March 04, 2008: The NED University of Engineering and Technology will confer two PhD degrees in
Computer System Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, its first in the two
disciplines, at its Convocation 2008 on March 6.
Humera Noor and Anjum
Khalid are the two recipients, who will have the honour of receiving the degrees
on the day of the convocation. Only two others have achieved the honour of
receiving a PhD degree in Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Javed Aziz
Khan, Registrar of NED, said that his
university had focused its attention on research and is striving hard to allow
more academics to get PhDs. "Currently there are 44 academics of different
departments, who have gone abroad for their PhD degrees and hopefully their
return will give us opportunity to enhance our quality of education. Besides
those who have gone abroad, six are working for their degrees in NED and 13 are
enrolled in different universities of Pakistan", he elaborated. Meanwhile, this
year's convocation will see the conferring of 800 Bachelor's and 50 Master's
degrees to students in different disciplines.
DUHS reduces study hours with introduction of semester system
Karachi: The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has drastically
reduced the study hours for basic medical sciences subjects with the
introduction of the semester system at its affiliated medical
institutes.
The semester curriculum recently prepared by the DUHS
revealed a six-month to one-year reduction in basic medical subjects. According
to sources, Anatomy, a basic medical sciences subject will be taught for 500
hours, the earlier duration of which was 800 hours. Giving the break-up of the
new curriculum, sources said that anatomy will be taught 100 hours (hrs) in the
first semester of first year and 200hrs each in second and third semester. This
means a six-month reduction in the subject.
Similarly, around 200 hours
have been reduced from the subject of physiology as now it will be taught for
400hrs, which implied a six-month reduction. Its previous duration was 600hrs.
Now physiology will be taught for 100hrs in first semester of first year and
150hrs each in the second and third semesters. Moreover, pathology (general and
special) which was a two-year subject is now reduced to one year, while the
duration for bio-chemistry has been reduced to one and a half year from
two-year. Forensic science, another basic medical subject will now be taught for
one semester only, though it was a one-year course previously.
Besides
this, the examination year of certain subjects has also been changed. Sources
add that previously paediatrics was being taught in the final professional MBBS
examination but now it will be taught in the third year, which is likely to
create confusion for the students.
Meanwhile, sources add that the
Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has so far not given the approval for
reduction of study hours though it has allowed the semester system. "There is a
move to reduce MBBS from five years to four years," the sources said. They
further revealed that a majority of the members of the academic council of the
DUHS had opposed the semester system during their meeting and some of them also
complained about a lack of consultation before its implementation. The sources
said that, in fact, the system was "imposed".
"The subjects of basic
medical sciences will not be covered due to a drastic reduction of period," said
one faculty member on condition of anonymity, adding that it will also adversely
affect the competency of students. He pointed out that all over the world, MBBS
is being taught annually, and is considerably different from social sciences.
"Had the semester system been suitable for MBBS, England, Europe, India and
Singapore would have introduced it also," he added.
Dr Sher Shah Syed,
PMDC member, said that it would have been more appropriate to introduce the
system step by step. At first step, it should have been introduced at the Dow
International Medical College where faculty is relatively in large numbers
besides resources. If it had produced the desired results there, then it would
have been introduced at other colleges. Instead, the decision was bulldozed
without analysing its pros and cons, he complained. However, Shah suggested that
the full faculty should be introduced at the Sindh Medical College (SMC) and Dow
Medical College (DMC), though it may demand giving Rs0.3 million to Rs0.4
million salaries to them because the DUHS has money.
Talking about the
reduction in study hours, Shah added that the DUHS, by reducing study hours, is
allegedly making MBBS 'easy'. Recalling the past he said, "In our time, there
was a full-time faculty. Later, there was part-time faculty with part-time
students, part-time doctors and part-time patients." Moreover, Shah demanded
proper assessment of the semester system by a committee comprising qualified
doctors. The News
Teachers in favour of the system
Karachi: Dr Nelofer Sultana, a senior professor at the DUHS, while
appreciating the semester system said that the "semester system should be
introduced but with an amendment, that is 'comprehensive annual examination' so
the students do not forget other subjects."
However, because of
student-teacher ratio at medical colleges, the semester system may not be
effective and due to increasing pressure to complete the syllabus, teachers
might not be able to give individual attention to students.
A professor
of medicine at DUHS, Zaman Shaikh listing the advantages of the semester system,
said that it will lead to what he called continuous assessment of students as
several students study seriously after eight to 10 months but in the semester
system, they will have to give more time to study from the very beginning as
mid-term test will also take place. Moreover, it will increase collaboration
with international universities where this system exists.
On the other
hand, a professor of Dow International Medical College said that the biggest
disadvantage of the system is that both faculty and students are not prepared
for it. "The semester system is good and two private medical universities in the
city have already adopted it. As the PMDC did not give them permission for the
system, they conduct both semester and annual examination, putting extra burden
on students," he added. Talking about the reduction in study hours, he said,
they have not been reduced but have been 'rationed'.
Speaking in favour
of the system, a professor of paediatrics at the DUHS, Iqbal Memon said that
what is good about the system is that it will provide a fixed schedule,
compelling students to study consistently. However, it requires more faculty and
adequate classes.
DUHS to set up medical sciences research centre
Karachi: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) will set up 'Medical
Sciences Research Centre' at its Ojha Campus in the city.
The Central
Development Working Party (CDWP) of Planning Commission in its sixth meeting of
current financial year held on March 1, 2008 approved the project worth Rs480
million, DUHS spokesperson said on Monday. According to the Vice Chancellor (VC)
DUHS, Professor Masood Hameed Khan, the university will establish a 200-bed
teaching research hospital within three years in its Ojha campus and 22
scholarships to eligible students will be provided for PhD from
abroad.
The VC in his statement thanked Dr Akram Sheikh, Dr
Atta-ur-Rehman, chairman Higher Education Commision (HEC) and Nazar Mohammed
Meher, Sindh additional chief secretary development.
Meanwhile, the
inaugural ceremony of new academic block at the Dow Medical College campus of
DUHS will be held on Tuesday (today). Governor Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan
will be the chief guest, according to the DUHS spokesperson. The News
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