Punjab University’s global ranking improves

LAHORE: QS World University Rankings, which is officially recognised by the Punjab government and Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has ranked Punjab University among top 801-1000 universities in its fresh ranking for 2022.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed said that QS had ranked Punjab University among the best 78.5 per cent universities of the world in 2018 but in the latest ranking the university has been ranked among top 62 per cent universities of the world. He added that in just three years, PU’s international ranking had improved by 16 per cent which was a landmark achievement because it was very difficult to improve university ranking at international level because of tough competition among the varsities.

Prof Niaz Ahmed said that The Nature Publishing Group, a world-class publisher of high impact scientific and medical information in print and online founded in 1869, had also ranked Punjab University No 1 amongst all Pakistani universities in terms of research publications in the field of natural sciences. He said that for the first time, PU’s 13 subjects had been ranked internationally by QS and PU’s subject of Petroleum Engineering was ranked among top 100-150 institutions of the world. He said that in 2018, PU’s five subjects were ranked international for the first time and PU was improving its subject-wise ranking manifold every year.

The VC said PU had also improved its Asian ranking and it stands on 178th position, making a considerable jump of 54 points in just two years.

He said that PU was ranked 232nd in 2018’s ranking of Asian universities and it had improved its ranking manifold in a period of just two years. He said that the initiatives the administration had taken for improvement in international ranking had started bringing fruit. He said that due to promotion of research culture, the research publications of the university had increased and the university for the first time allocated a hefty amount of Rs 380 million for research last year as it was top priority of the administration. He said that teacher-student ratio had been maintained, appointments of PhD degree holders as faculty members had been made and collaboration with international organisations enhanced, which had mainly contributed to the university’s rapid improvement in QS ranking. He said that the university was making rapid progress in all the disciplines.

Prof Niaz said PU was full of potential and its ranking would be improved further in the upcoming world rankings. He said that the university administration hasd focused on good governance, restoration of PU’s academic excellence and research with socio-economic impact. He said the university had regulated all statutory bodies of the university.

He appreciated Ranking Committee Chairman Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood for making efforts to improve the university’s ranking and congratulated PU faculty members, employees

and students on the achievement.