University of Agriculture Faisalabad(UAF) to have a directorate of outreach aiming at taking the research and technology developed by UAF scientists at doorsteps of the end-users.
The decision was made during a meeting of UAF Syndicate who met on Sunday with UAF VC Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan in the chair and participated by judge of the Lahore High Court (Rawalpindi Bench) Justice Ijaz Ahmad, Additional Secretary Agriculture Planning Ahmad Ali Zafar, Advisor HEC Professor Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi, Additional Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development Department Khurshid Ali Zaidi, Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain Registrar, Ashraf Mumtaz Treasurer, Brigadier Javaid Anwar(Retd) Director P&D, Dr Muhammad Asghar Cheema, Dr Rao Asif Ali Khan, Dr Haroon Zaman Khan, and Dr Bilal Saeed Khan.
Besides, giving approval to have a Tenure Reviewing Committee aiming at help the university in evaluating the applications received by the aspirants seeking appointments on Tenure Track System, the house also gave a nod to start admissions in new scheme of studies approved by the Academic Council on June 24 this year. The Syndicate also approved the development and non-development budget estimates of 3289.906 million rupees that would be presented before the upcoming meeting of the University Senate and emphasised the government to support the university with an amount of 719.710 million rupees thereby to bridge the gulf between receipts and expenditures during 2013-14.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan urged the government to open at least one university at each district of the province to make the higher education accessible, and affordable. Giving the details of the vision 2013, Dr Khan said that the University was anticipating housing 30,000 students in the coming decade for that a massive investment in infrastructure, and R&D would be required.
After thread bear discussion, the Syndicate described the Strategic Plan of the University, a positive step towards meeting the new challenges and also to meet new heights of success in future. Apprising the house about UAF Ranking, he said that the varsity was providing research leadership in the country and on the basis of meritorious research it earned 158th position in Agriculture and Environment by NTU as well as QS World University Subject Ranking it was placed at 142nd position in Agriculture and Forestry that, he said, would be improved in the coming years.
Dr Khan said that UAF management was determined to provide the students an experiential learning through pedagogical change and making as much as courses online, that would eventually equip the graduates with hands on training. He said during the last 5 years, UAF had added about 10 first degree courses, and going to start 11 Master degree programmes, two Associate Degrees, 3 MPhil and 3 PhD programmes to meet the growing needs and also to diversify our academic programmes.
Justice Ijaz Ahmad while apprising the Punjab Government for initiating new projects of encouraging the cultivation of oil-seed crops, grapes, olive oil and emphasised the government to make sure the buying of first crops thereby to make the project successful and promote such initiatives. He also appreciated the University Management for taking steps to revive the sports activities in the varsity.