AWKU offers admissions to 29 disciplines:VC Professor Dr Ihsan Ali

As a student, I got gold medal in MA Archaeology from University of Peshawar with record marks unbeaten to date, followed by MA in Field Archaeology from the University College, London, UK through British Council scholarship. I did PhD from one of the world’s renowned seat of learning, Cambridge University, UK and have travelled worldwide and delivered lectures, in various universities of the world. I have to my credit over 63 research papers, published in national and international journals, edited 17 different volumes of journals in archaeology. After being the Chair of Archaeology, University of Peshawar for three years (1997-2000). I was appointed as director of Archaeology & Museums, NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in 2002, and during my tenure, I established six museums and started a new a journal namely “Frontier Archaeology”. In 2006 I was appointed as vice-chancellor of Hazara University, which was dismantled by the devastating earthquake of October 2005. With the grace of God, I not only rebuilt the university in the shortest possible time but also established its two campuses at Haripur & Havelian; now upgraded as independent universities.
In 2008, the government assigned me the task of establishment of Abdul Wali Khan University (AWKU) at Mardan, which was indeed a gigantic task but with the grace of Allah I not only accomplished the task but along with established nine campuses, two of which have attained the status of independent universities (Bacha Khan University, Charsadda & University of Swabi) and taken the university to a level where it is rated very high amongst the public sector universities of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan, recognising my services, contributions and achievements, awarded me with the distinctive civil award of "Sitara-e-Imtiaz" in 2013 in the field of culture in which alone I have to my credit the establishment of nine museums.
Thanks to Almighty Allah, as the VC of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, I feel proud to say that at present the university offers admissions in 29 disciplines, in Arts and Humanities, Social, Basic and Applied Sciences at Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate levels. In order to enhance the academic and intellectual growth of students, the university provides all basic facilities i.e. libraries, science and computer labs, internet, hostels, transport, scholarships, etc.
Keeping in view the quality and standard of education and research in AWKU, three of its departments (Department of Management Sciences, Department of Computer Science and Department of Education) are duly accredited by relevant National Accreditation Councils of Pakistan. Also, the Department of Pharmacy and the Department of Law have been issued NOCs from the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and the Pakistan Bar Council respectively.
Presently more than 8,487 students are enrolled in various programmes. Among the 357 highly qualified faculty, 137 are PhD and 111 are MS/M.Phil. Since 2009, our enlightened faculty has published 1,090 research publications in Impact Factor Journals of International repute. For faculty development the university has started the largest HRD programme in the country, wherein 73 scholars are pursuing their PhDs in various technologically advanced countries of the world and 56 in various universities of the country. So for the university has inked MoUs with 28 top class universities of the world. There are 57 colleges affiliated with AWKUM (government colleges 24, private colleges 33).
The already established four campuses and the under construction new Garden Campus are situated in Mardan spreading over more than 2,000 Kanals of land. Construction of 32 buildings is in the final stages. The first phase has almost been completed and 08 departments shifted to Garden Campus including administration offices, while the rest of the departments will be shifted shortly. Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan has probably, the largest transport fleet in the country providing pick and drop facilities to both students and staff.