The promotion of need and outcome-based education is essential in higher education institutions to produce quality and market-oriented graduates to play their proactive role in economic growth and development of the country, says Professor Dr Noor Muhammad, Pro-vice chancellor, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar.
He was giving an exclusive interview to Business Recorder here on Tuesday. The Vice Chancellor said the outcome-based education (OBE) system is being successfully introduced, which would be further enhanced the worldwide credibility of the graduates.
He said that being the only public sector engineering university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, UET Peshawar is providing a helping hand in the development of the province by producing quality engineers. He added the services rendered by the graduates of the UET got worldwide recognition in the field of engineering and technology.
Dr Noor Mohammad furthered said they were taking all possible initiatives to create a link between the government, academia and the industry through a well-sustained plan. Vice chancellor said as an academician himself he and his team believed in bringing reforms in the education system at the university and that was why the university was the university gradually moving towards OBE System of learning. Particularly, he mentioned that with changing dynamic and globalization era, the engineering field has been changed, as under the prevalent circumstances, he added the need and outcome-based education is much essential to compete with rest of the world.
"Every institution is passing through learning process, which has developed various new innovative ideas and policy to bring improvement in their present education system, VC said.
Dr Noor Muhammad said that since taking over as the pro-Vice Chancellor he has faced with three uphill task, including resumption academic activities at Jalozai campus, accreditation issue with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) from sessions 2010-2011 and 2012 of the university Kohat campus and some issues in USAID-funded project. He, however, said that they had taken steps on war-footing basis, and all these problems had almost resolved amicably.
VC informed that the university had signed a number of agreements with public and private sector institutions, such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL), Military College Engineering, etc. Regarding the multi-billion dollars the China-Pakistan Economic Co-ordinator, he said project is lifeline, and will change destine of the country. He said the UET Peshawar in support with Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had singed around nine MoUs for various projects in engineering sector under CPEC.
When asked about the increasing jobless claims of graduating engineers in the country, Vice Chancellor replied that there were number of avenue and opportunities for engineering sector. He, however, said the potential and capability must be accounted.