HEC approves Rs 30 million to strengthen IT department at Sargodha University

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) would strengthen IT department at University of Sargodha at a cost of about Rs 30 million.
The project approved recently is linked with the other sectoral portfolio programmes of HEC launched for the development of higher education in general and with IT education in particular.
Ten year perspective plan 2001-11 and five year plan on higher education have given due importance to IT education at all levels. The objectives of the plan include higher education infrastructure development and sectoral reforms.
According to HEC here on Saturday, the project is a part of the HEC programme for promotion of IT education as similar projects from all other universities and degree awarding institutions have been sanctioned by ministry of Information Technology & telecommunication and HEC over the past two years.
The major objective of the project is to start graduate and post-graduate programmes and 50 BCS & 50 MCS degree holders to be produced annually.
Modern five laboratories with accessories will be established and qualified faculty and labs staff would be induced through this project to produce quality manpower in IT field.
One of the main goals of the current IT education policies is to develop an extensive pool of trained IT manpower to meet local and export requirements.
Presently, both the public and private sectors are imparting IT education, however, the high cost of private sector IT education and the lower number of seats in private sector institutions are preventing poor talented students from entering into IT education.
On the other hand, lack of funds and inability of private sector to hire qualified IT teachers on market rates is preventing them to increase the number of IT manpower.
The University of Sargodha, on its recent establishment now intends to join the list for special benefit of the people of the region.
University of Sargodha is one of such premier institutions of Punjab, which is delivering quality education since its establishment in 2002.
The university is imparting higher education to the people of Sargodha division. The majority belongs to very low-income people and cannot afford high cost of the private sector IT education.
The only hope left for such people is the private sector institutions at exorbitant costs.
The University of Sargodha is currently, producing 50 BCS students every year. Now the university desires to stand side-by-side with the government to implement the IT action plan in the light of IT policy.
For the purpose, the university wants to increase its BCS intake three times. At the same time the university also wants to upgrade one existing IT lab and also desires to develop seven new IT laboratories to assure quality education.
The project will be implemented by the department of computer science under direct administrative control of the Vice-chancellor.
The department and staff will be abided by the general administrative and financial rules of the university. The project will be administered, executed, supervised and co-ordinated by the Vice-chancellor, chairman of IT department and the faculty members of the department.