Good faculty is the main strength of a university, says NUCES rector

Islamabad
The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES or FAST-NU) with headquarters in Islamabad and campuses in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Faisalabad is one of the leading technical universities in Pakistan.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD degrees in Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, and Mathematics. FAST established the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES or NU) in July, 2000, so as to expand the activities of existing institutes, to establish more campuses throughout the country, and to maintain its tradition of academic excellence.
The university has been established-chartered by the Government of Pakistan on July 1, 2000, and is currently one of the leading technology universities in Pakistan.
‘The News’ got the opportunity to meet the Rector National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad Dr. Muhammed Amir here on Monday who spoke about the working of FAST University, its students and its faculty.
He said that The National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences has the honour of being the first multi-campus private sector university setup under the Federal Charter in the year 2000. The university started with an impressive advantage in that, thanks to the efforts of the Foundation FAST, it inherited first rate computer science institutes located at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and now in Chiniot Faisalabad in spacious buildings and prestigious settings. The rector said these institutes, individually as well as collectively, have established leadership position due to the splendid vision of an enlightened management and tireless efforts of a highly qualified faculty.
Over the years FAST has become the hallmark of excellence in academic arena, domestic market and international community. The university concentrated on providing education in market-oriented disciplines badly needed by the country to facilitate national development.
Amir Muhammed said that besides Computer Sciences we have other faculties also. Under Electrical Engineering we are encompassing Telecom, Electrical, Robotic and Power and Distribution engineering. For the first time we have also started Civil Engineering in the Lahore Campus and in near future, Karachi and Islamabad campuses will also start Civil Engineering. “At least 20,000 applicants apply for our university but after rigorous computerized tests we select students purely on merit bases. We are not funded by anybody and generate our own resources and provide best facilities to our students. We make sure that deserving students are not refused higher education because of any financial constraints. More than 60 million worth of scholarships are offered annually as ‘Qarz-e-hasna’ to brilliant and needy students. Our university has maintained an environment conducive with moral values and human qualities so that our students could become a better citizen of the society along with excelling in their respective fields. We have produced many success stories and students contact us from all over the world and thank us for their support,” he added.
The rector said that till now they have produced 30 PhDs. “This faculty is our strength and we do not compromise on quality of our education. Annually job fair is held and linkages are built with the industry so that students have a direct contact with the companies and the companies can hire them. Research papers of faculties are printed in international papers frequently. It is this interest of students in Information Technology that our strength has gone upto 10,000 now, from only 900 in the year 2,000. The rector said that holding Educational Expo annually is a great effort by Jang Group, giving the opportunity to students to interact with the universities and study the courses they are interested in,” he added. This effort, he said is highly laudable and should continue in the future as the students can select their universities and see what they are offering all under one roof.
Dr. Muhammed Amir is the Rector of National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad since July 2000. Doctor of Philosophy in 1959 from Oxford University (UK). M.Sc (Hons) 1953, B.Sc.(Hons) 1952 from Punjab University (Government College, Lahore). He bagged first position in the university and received gold medal. He retired in 1990 as the Chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Federal Secretary Government of Pakistan. Established PARC almost from a scratch and developed it into a prestigious research organization in the agriculture sector capable of making a major contribution to the agricultural development of the country.