MAN WITH A
GREAT VISION
ENGR Z.A. NIZAMI
CHANCELLOR SIR SYED UNIVERSITY OF
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
By Iqbal Hasan Rizvi
“Higher education plays a
significant role in the development of society because it improves and promotes
the economic, social, political and cultural life of the nation. In Pakistan, unfortunately
developmental indicators are not showing favourable results and the participation
rate at higher education is lower than the advanced countries. Research
facilities and academic results are not at par with international standards in
general.
Faculty and staff need
development in knowledge and skills for the improvement of quality,
effectiveness and access of higher education. Character building of the
students should be focused and the linkage between university and industry
should be established,” said Engr. Z.A. Nizami, Chancellor Sir Syed University
of Engineering & Technology in an interview with Business Recorder.
Chancellor Z.A. Nizami with great
vision developed and incorporated the idea of imparting high-standard, updated
knowledge of engineering in the most effective way at Sir Syed University of
Engineering & Technology. Through his substantial work and strategically
planned managerial skill, SSUET emerged as a centre of excellence for
graduating students who are agile learners, prepared to succeed in today’s
competitive workforce. Engr Z.A. Nizami focused on ensuring that students from
all academic and social backgrounds were given an equal opportunity to
transform their lives through higher education at SSUET. He also worked through
a process of developing world class faculty, groundbreaking research,
state-of-the-art laboratories, excellent infrastructure for academic pursuit
and robust cultural life, assuring the quality and effectiveness of all academic
programmes and support services, His tenure has been amazingly promising by
tremendous growth in the university, making it a place with boundless future.
SSUET is one of the nation’s top
engineering universities, distinguished by its commitment to improving the human
condition through advanced science and technology. It occupies a vast area in
heart of the city of Karachi, where more than 5000 undergraduate and graduate
students receive a focused, technologically based education.
“SSUET works with a vision of
transforming its students into competent, inspired and professional engineers.
The university aims at delivering not just the highest quality of technical
education to its students through interactive, learning-oriented environment,
state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting edge laboratories and well qualified,
dedicated faculty, but also through a decent set of life skills that grooms
students to face the industry in years to come,” said Mr Nizami.
Having a vast professional experience in the
field of engineering, Chancellor Z.A. Nizami opined that the graduate from
SSUET is a finished product equipped with wide range of skills and a wealth of
knowledge, ready to take on the competitive world with not only deep academic
insight and technical know-how, but also armed with values and ethics that help
in grooming a well rounded personality. With the improvement in technology,
the engineer’s requirement today is to think logically and develop solutions
to various engineering issues through information technology.
“Students need a pioneer spirit
in order to find new venues for their bright future, and to break old, trite
traditional values and concepts of thinking. The future belongs to those who
believe in the beauty of their dreams. To me, the luckiest is the one who makes
his dreams come true and … ultimately leave behind a legacy,” remarked
Chancellor Nizami.
Sir Syed University of
Engineering & Technology is a legacy of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan that was
founded in 1994 to keep Aligarh Spirit alive. Its degree progrmmes are
accredited by Pakistan Engineering Council and Higher Education Commission of
Pakistan. Internationally, it has full membership of Common Wealth
Universities, and the UNESCO sponsored International Association of Universities.
In addition to world famous
universities like San-Jose and Johns Hopkins of USA and University of Ottawa,
SSUET has collaboration with three American and five leading British
universities that offer students of Sir Syed University a golden chance of getting
a foreign degree, just after completing two years of studies in the
aforementioned institutions. Students’ marks in first two years at Sir Syed
University will be
credited in their transcript of foreign university. For the improvement of
quality, effectiveness and access of higher education,
Being the first engineering
university in private sector, awarded with ISO 9001: 2000 Certificate, SSUET
enjoys the status of “W” category, the highest ranking given by Higher
Education Commission of Pakistan to the university imparting high quality of
education at international level. The university has also achieved the rank of
5-star by the Charter Evaluation Committee.
Mr Nizami said Sir Syed
University grants scholarship and financial assistance to the deserving
students on need-cum-merit basis. The available amount for scholarship has been
increasing every year and a huge amount of Rs 40 million has been reserved in
current fiscal year for financial support and scholarships to the students.
.
He further elaborated SSUET gives
more importance to career counseling of the students and to serve the purpose
it has developed a meaningful and effective interaction with the industry and
corporate sector for gaining employment opportunities and internships programmes
for the students.
He pointed out the highest amount
of Rs 40 million has been allocated for purchasing additional equipments for
all Faculties including newly established Telecom Faculty. Rs 1.5 million have
been allocated for research projects, Rs 3.5 million for research by faculty,
and Rs 1.5 million for PhD Graduate Programme, while Rs 12.30 million would be
spent on construction of new academic block, Rs 8.80 million provided for
development of New Campus/IT Park.
During 2010-11, the university
had provided financial assistance to 28 employees and 473 students out of
profit on endowment fund and the same was expected in 2011-12. According to the
budget documents some 9819 students have been awarded engineering degree from
1998 to 2011 while three Faculty members cleared PhD comprehensive exams and
are pursuing research work.
Chancellor Z .A. Nizami observes,
“I know that we’re not all going to do things of great magnitude, however, on a
smaller scale, each and every one of us can contribute something of value.
Therefore, I encourage every individual, in whichever way he can, to be original,
to be creative, to follow his passion and to follow his dreams. And to keep Aligarh
Spirit alive! Join the hands in our efforts and build a new cadre of technical
professionals, who will accelerate the growth in the digital era.”
