Preston University contributing to development of Pakistan: Dr Basit

Islamabad
Preston University has made mammoth contribution towards the socio-economic development of Pakistan through promotion of higher education
In an exclusive interview with ‘The News’, Preston University Chancellor Dr. Abdul Basit said that the private sector is producing qualified and well-groomed human capital for the country.
Talking about Preston University, he said the university is committed to providing higher education of top quality to prepare students for professional and managerial positions within the country and abroad. The mission of Preston, he said, is to offer the students an opportunity for personal growth and development, skill enhancement, or professional job advancement through provision of first-rate education.
Briefly unfolding the history of Preston University, he said that this university was established as the School of Business and Commerce, in 1984, to foster academic excellence. Preston University, he said, is seriously committed to improving the quality of higher education in Pakistan. “The university is managed by a group of dedicated professionals and academicians who have committed their lives to the cause of higher education in the country. Since its inception in 1984, the Preston Network has imparted knowledge and skills to thousands of individuals through many state-of-the-art market-driven academic programs,” he added.
Highlighting an important element of perennial interest and concern to the students and their parents and guardians, Dr. Basit said that Preston University possesses two charters. Preston University, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is chartered by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Ordinance No. LII of 2002, and Preston University, Karachi is chartered by the Government of Sindh, through Sindh Act No. V of 1998 published in 2004. Both Preston University, Kohat and Preston University, Karachi are duly recognised by the Higher Education Commission, Government of Pakistan, and placed in the highest category “W”. The Islamabad Campus of the University has been ranked as “W-4”.
Dr. Basit said that the experience at this university has played an important role in the professional and personal development of their students. Preston University will continue to fulfil its responsibilities to the society by creating and providing facilities for personal and professional growth of individuals who wish to make a career in the fields of business administration, information technology, engineering and technology, natural and applied science, social sciences and education.
Responding to a query, Dr. Abdul Basit said that during its three decades of existence the university faced various ups and downs in its bid to make a place as a reputed institution in the comity of respected institutions of higher learning in the country. The success story of Preston University is a clear example of how determination, hard-work and consistency can turn an ambition into reality, he maintained.
Taking pride in the achievements of Preston University, over the past 30 years, the institution, he informed, had a humble beginning with only five students enrolled in the Business Administration department. “The total enrolment has now exceeded 16,000 students studying in its network of campuses situated in the major cities of the country,” he said.
Preston University, Dr. Basit said, has so far produced over 100,000 graduates who are now part of the country’s superior work force and are contributing positively towards the development of this country. Many of Preston graduates, he informed, has had the opportunity to go abroad to further their education at leading institutions in the West, and have been employed in key positions in North America, Europe and the Middle East, particularly the Gulf Region.
Regarding award of scholarships to the students, Dr. Abdul Basit said that in addition to providing a variety of financial assistance according to the needs of the students who are unable to meet the full cost of their education, he said the university offers special merit scholarship granting 100 per cent to 75 per cent fee waiver to the outstanding students.
Books are an essential component of an educational institution. All Preston campuses, he said, have well-stocked libraries. Total holdings of the libraries of Preston University exceed 80,000 volumes. In addition to latest text and reference books and journals on-line research facilities are available in all the campuses, he informed.
Dr. Basit said that the university has set goals to provide specialised, high quality education as preparation for professional positions in business, industry and government.
In addition to providing educational opportunities at the graduate and postgraduate level the university has mandated itself to provide higher education opportunities to persons already employed or engaged in business, allowing them to pursue graduate degree programmes without interrupting their careers and without any compromise on the quality of education.
Talking about the importance of extracurricular activities in the overall grooming of the personalities of its students, he said Preston University has always emphasised on this vital component of education and training. He said, Preston University attains this important goal by providing its students an opportunity to unleash their talents by participating in inter-university competitions like Qirat, debate, drama, singing and sports competitions organised by the university, twice every year, under the banners of ‘Spring Splash’ and ‘Fall Fest’. He said the students of the university are also encouraged to fully participate in similar and other inter-university competitions like business plan and advertising campaign competitions organised by other universities. He said the university takes genuine pride in its students who have won and continue to win first, second and third positions, particularly in business plan and advertising campaign competitions, by beating some of the renowned public and private universities of the country like IBA Karachi, LUMS Lahore, Fast Islamabad, NUST Islamabad, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and others.
Regarding instructional techniques being followed at the university, he said, traditional and modern instructional techniques and technology are being followed in imparting education to the students at Preston. This, he said, greatly helps the students achieve their educational and career goals successfully.