COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) is going to launch a Dual Degree programme (DDP) in collaboration with Lancaster University (LU), UK under which both the institutions will award degrees to the students after completing four year studies programme at COMSATS.
This was announced by Deputy Vice-chancellor Professor Rpbert Mckinlay, Lancaster University and Registrar COMSATS Arshad Malik at a press conference here on Thursday. Initially the DDP, which is going to start from the fall of 2010 in Management Sciences, Computer Science and Electrical (Telecom) Engineering, will award admission to 250 Pakistani undergraduates.
Addressing on the occasion, Arshad Malik said that on successful completion of four years programme, students will be awarded two degrees; one by Lancaster University (LU) and the other by CIIT. Dual Degree Programme graduate would be alumni of both LU and the CIIT, he added. He said that initially the programme would be launched in Lahore Campus.
He further said that the programme is being introduced in Pakistan for the first time by the two top-ranked institutions: The DDP provides an alternative to have a foreign degree at highly reduced cost and without leaving the country.
The Programme is highly cost-effective, as the students will pay less than 20 percent of the total expenses, compared to what it would normally cost, if they actually go and study at LU. Professor Rpbert Mckinlay said that the schemes of studies of all the Dual Degree Programmes are validated by Lancaster University. Quality assurance of the programme especially the curriculum, delivery, assessment and examination shall be jointly monitored and ensured by CIIT and LU.
Students registered in the COMSATS-Lancaster Dual Degree Programme will be considered "external students" of Lancaster University, while undertaking their studies as the Lancaster Block of CIIT Lahore Campus. Students will be taught by foreign qualified faculty. Registered students would have the option to transfer their earned credit hours to Lancaster University. They will also have the option to spend part of their degree programme at Lancaster University, UK. Library, computer labs and other facilities shall be at par with LU standards and the students will have access to online resources of LU.