It is my proud privilege to be a part of a university possessed of a passion to make a difference in the lives of its students and faculty and gradually of the society at large. This in my view is the real task of a university worth its name. As a humble member of the NUST team.
It has been my passionate frame to be able to foster at school of electrical engineering and computer science an environment richly conducive to the growth of creative ideas with an equally matching collective spirit to translate those innovative ideas into vibrant realities.
I have long yearned to contribute to the cultivation of our secondary school generation of students. During my visits to Japan and other developed countries I was intrigued by the creative and innovative talent of students at the age of 7-10. I was excited to discover that 80% build up of creative potential in humans peaked around the age of 11-16, with the residual 20% creativity reserve achievable through exposure to subsequent challenging environments.
Luckily, during my tour of University of North Carolina, UNCC, USA, as a member of the delegation headed by Rector NUST, I broached the idea of conceiving and planning a unique creative activity for our schoolchildren back home with two NUST-sponsored scholars over there. They came up with the idea of initiating young school students in building various structures using different robotic kits and showing them the application of various scientific principles in the construction of their models. When I shared the idea with Rector NUST, he exuded excitement I could never have imagined. This is how we began to shape our dream in the form of Exylent.
I am confident this novel experience has been greatly instrument in opening the minds of our young students. They have greatly benefited from the knowledge and skills of their trainers, lectures by eminent scientists and visits to science museum and other place. To continue this initiative and bring into its ambit young children with financial constraints, we have plans to start in the future, subsidised summer camps for the benefit of low income community.
Feedback from the students and parents on the first Exeylent workshop reinforces my faith that people are always receptive to a positive change and they are keen to transform the lives and contribute their share towards building the knowledge-based economy in Pakistan. I pray for the continued success of our endeavors to this end under the banner of National University of Sciences and Technology.