Interview of Registrar Bahria University Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Saeed HI (M)
Waheed Hussain
Quality education is a catalyst to the socio-economic development of any nation. Countries like China, Japan, South Korea, USA, and numerous 0thers in the western world accord top priority to education in the list of their development plans, which has enabled them to generate excellent human resource for their industry. In Pakistan quality education at all levels has been a great challenge for the various governments which have put in meager resources to match the international educational standards. Bahria University is one of the best higher education institutes in the country which in the long term will make its contribution to this dream of our nation. The university is producing quality human resource. The Registrar Bahria University, Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Saeed narrates the success story of the university during an exclusive interview with the deputy editor of Centerline, Waheed Hussain.
Q: How Bahria University (BU) is contributing in imparting quality higher education to the new generation?
BU is one of the leading institutions in higher education of Pakistan. It is offering undergraduate, post graduate and doctoral studies in various disciplines. Its research is directed towards the development of solutions for industry and society by employing management, engineering, and philosophy, natural, social and medical sciences. The university was established in 2000 and in mere 16 years it has attained the status of one of the top institutions of higher learning in the country. BU is constantly pursuing to provide quality education and it is our endeavor to provide the right professional knowledge and skills to our students that meets the market requirements. Our resolve is also to create an environment that nurtures and inculcates in our students to be good human beings who are beneficial to the society as a whole.
Q: What are the main areas and subjects covered at BS and MS and PHD levels?
Bahria University basically has three main campuses at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. The campuses have a number of departments namely Management Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences , Media Studies, Humanities , Law and Social Sciences. In addition to this we have a very modern Medical and Dental College, Institute of Professional Psychology and National Centre for Maritime Policy Research.
- What technical facilities are available for computer science and engineering students at the campuses?
Bahria University is providing best technological opportunities to its students. Engineering Faculty has 17 state of the art computing and hardware labs comprising of over 400 computing machines. The labs are equipped with latest trainers for communication and networks, signal processing, robotics and control, electro-mechanical and micro-processor based systems.
- What are some of the new subjects/degrees being introduced in the university for upcoming fall semester?
Bahria University is offering degrees in MS Islamic Financing, MS Mathematics, MS Computer Engineering, MS Geology, MS International Relations, MS Info Security, and at Graduation level it is launching BS Clinical Psychology, BS Anthropology, BS Bio-informatics, BS Geology. In the medical college (BUMDC), we will be launching Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Orthodontic, Prosthodontics and Periodontology.
- What are the criteria of hiring the faculty?
Induction of faculty is carried out strictly in accordance with the criteria issued by HEC.
- How much importance is given to the research?
We are generally satisfied with the research activities of academia at Bahria University. In order to promote knowledge creation through research, Office of Research & Development was established in February 2010 which was later notified by HEC as Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) in October 2011.
Do the teachers get competitive salary package and pension facilities like other public universities?
The entire staff of BU is hired on contract. The same is extended keeping in view the performance and willingness of the individual. But we do not force any member of faculty to leave without being afforded ample opportunity for defense.
What facilities are provided to students in Media Studies?
The university has a separate Media Studies Department with a media lab facility. The university has a state of the art TV and Radio studios, production, and editing and news rooms to train the students for the media industry. In a few weeks the university will launch its Web TV, campus Radio and Online Newspaper to showcase the students’ talent. It would be the first educational media house in the country.
- Please elaborate about international linkages with other universities of the world, and how the students and teachers are getting benefits?
Our understanding of global reach goes far and beyond the basics to a range of university wide initiatives including, credit transfer, faculty and student exchange programs, exchange of research fellows, joint research projects, joint conferences and seminars, video conferencing lectures, sharing/exchange of information and resources, student’s study trips and international internships.
