QS World University Rankings 2011

QAU ranked world's 69th best varsity
Islamabad, April 12: Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad has been ranked 69th best university of the world.

According to "QS World University Rankings 2011" issued by topuniversities.com website on Monday, the world's leading 10 universities and institutes were still in the US and UK. They included Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University, University of California (Berkeley) and University of California (Los Angeles) in the US; and Oxford, Cambridge universities and Imperial College of London in the UK.

Talking to this reporter, Vice Chancellor QAU Prof Masoom Yasin Zai attributed the achievement to strategic planning at the university envisioned some two years back. Besides, he said, the university had introduced new programmes and hired around 35 PhDs who had returned from the West. He said seven international faculty members were also teaching at the QAU.

"Today QAU is rated along with MIT and Harvard University mainly because of professionalism and modernisation introduced at all levels – modern labs, international subjects, research papers etc."

The VC said the number of the university's international research publications was also increasing because of high standard of education being provided by the faculty and hard work of the students.

He added: "If you want to have more Pakistani universities among the world's best, all you have to do is to follow a strict higher education policy for the next three decades." Dawn

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FDE has so far not announced any policy
Islamabad: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has so far not announced any policy after change in nomenclature of Federal Government Schools that has caused confusion among teachers and students after the start of the new academic session.

Sources said that on the one hand teachers are not quite sure about the admission mechanism and curricula and on the other students are still unaware about their fee structure, which is yet to be revised after change in status of Federal Government Schools to Islamabad Model Schools.

According to the official data, the FDE has issued a notification on February 17, 2011, regarding the uniformity of education in all academic institutions of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) under the administrative control of the FDE, but it has so far failed to announce the admission policy, change in syllabi and fee structure.

The notification included the names of 418 academic institutions, which were given the status of model institutions. However the list attached with the notification could create ambiguity in future as it does not categorise them into two groups - Islamabad Model Schools for Boys-Girls (Class I-IV, I-VIII or VI-X) and Islamabad Model College for Boys-Girls (Classes XI-XII, XI-XIV or XI-XVI).

It is pertinent to mention here that before the change in the nomenclature the federal government academic institutions were charging only Rs30 per month, while model academic institutions were charging Rs450 per month.

The other important thing that should have been finalised before the commencement of the new academic year was the unification of syllabi and introduction of criterion for equal distribution of funds among all government schools which have now become model institutions.

The sources also said the sacked employees that were restored by the government have not received their salaries and they have been constantly approaching their high-ups but to no avail.

Sources said that the FDE is also not following the policy announced by the cabinet, which stated that daily wage employees who have worked for 190 days and contractual employees having experience of more than one year should be regularised.

Despite repeated attempts by this correspondent, FDE Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Nazir was not available for comments.

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Students celebrate 23rd birthday of RSS
Rawalpindi: Students celebrated the Roots School System's 23rd birthday in an amazing bond of love and respect for their alma mater here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, RSS founder Riffat Mushtaq said that a nation which cannot produce men and women of character can never rise to the heights of prosperity. "Today, what I witnessed at Roots School gave me a very strong feeling of satisfaction to see teachers and students tied in a bond of love, respect and understanding. May the Roots family of students, teachers and founding members continue with their dedicated efforts to the cause of quality education by bringing out the best in our children," she said.

The schools wore a festive look, adorned with a message 'I Love Roots'. Beautifully crafted greeting cards strewn with shining beads, crystals and fabric flowers were presented to Riffat Mushtaq for her selflessness, love and passion for children. All branches were decorated with balloons, cards, banners, steamers and birthday songs were sung by students. Students were dressed up in colourful dresses, carrying buntings, balloons, wearing birthday caps spreading confetti poppers everywhere in the surrounding. A group of preparatory students showed their affection with the institution through their performance on song with pompoms.

Riffat Mushtaq wished best of luck to all employees. After receiving handmade cards and best wishes, directors conveyed their thanks and balloons were released in the air. RSS CEO Lieutenant Colonel (r) Mushtaque Rasul Chaudhry, Director Faisal Mushtaq and Director Walid Mushtaq were present in the ceremony.

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Sixteen varsities participate in GIKI competition
Swabi: Sixteen best teams from 11 different universities of Pakistan participated in a three-day design, build and flying competition at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology.

The competition was sponsored by STEM Careers Programme of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and organised by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), GIK Institute chapter.

Air Commodore Shahid Aslam Khan, managing director F6 RF, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony on Monday.

Experts from PAC Kamra judged the design, manufacturing and flying potential of the different teams. The flying and manoeuvring of the remote-controlled planes in the air and then safely landing on the ground spirited the participants to extend a big applause to each team.

Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, pro-rector (academic), said: "We have seen practical learning and demonstration of skills in the competition, which is one of the best phases during students' education." He hoped the commission would continue to work and coordinate with provincial governments for sustainable development in higher education. The news

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