Committee to evaluate academic programmes at Sheikh Zayed centres

Joint Advisory Committee for Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centres in Pakistan, which met here on Saturday, has decided to constitute a sub-committee, to assess and evaluate the present academic programmes.
The sub-committee is comprised of Joint Education Advisor, Ministry of Education and all three Directors of Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centres. It was also proposed that the number of students in undergraduate programmes be reduced to students not more than 25 and the students enrolled in undergraduate programme only be allowed to seek admission in postgraduate studies related to Islamic studies. Written test through national testing service was also suggested.
Lieutenant General Arshad Mahmood, (Retd) vice-chancellor, University of the Punjab, Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, vice-chancellor, University of Karachi, Sajid Hassan, Federal Secretary Education, Professor Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan, Registrar, University of the Punjab, Professor Dr Qibla Ayaz, Dean, Faculty of Islamic and Oriental Learning, University of Peshawar, Professor Dr Samar Fatima, Dean, Faculty of Islamic and Oriental Learning, University of the Punjab, Professor Dr Jamila Shaukat, Director, Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, University of the Punjab, Professor Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman, Director, Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, Karachi University and Joint Education Advisor, Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan were present in the meeting.
Sajid Hassan, Federal Secretary Education said that purpose of the meeting is to assess and evaluate academic programmes and to review academic capabilities of all three Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centers in Pakistan. Arshad Mahmood said that the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centers were established in Pakistan with the basic objective to encourage teaching and research in Islamic studies. At present the centers are more concentrating on undergraduate studies rather than strengthening the postgraduate and doctoral programmes. He said that there must be exchange programmes with foreign universities specially the Arab world for advancement to research in Islamic studies. Student's enrolment in undergraduate programmes must be reduced and induction of teachers in the centers should be through respective selection board of the universities, he added.
Professor Dr Samar Fatima, Dean, Faculty of Islamic and Oriental Learning, University of the Punjab said that admission criteria, courses of studies and academic programmes must be made similar in all the centers.