QUAID-I-AZAM UNIVERSITY
ISLAMABAD

Quaid-i-Azam University, since its inception in 1965, has established itself into a producer of highly trained manpower. It started as natural sciences school with MPhil PhD programs; subsequently social sciences were added and MSc program was introduced. Over the last four decades, QAU has become the largest contributor in the promotion of higher education in Pakistan. It has produced 20500 MSc, 3750 MPhil, 500 PhD, and 60 MDMS/MS. Nationwide admissions are held on merit, within the regional quota; thus University has been a deriving strength from the cultural diversity. There are four Faculties; Biological, Natural, Social, and Medical Sciences, and six federally funded autonomous Centers on the campus.

With tireless efforts of the faculty, administration, and the students, QAU has been rated No. 1 University (2006) in Pakistan by the HEC. It has also been ranked No. 2 for research output among the OIC universities. Recently, the THES-UK has ranked the QAU among the top 600 universities of the world.

QAU has a powerful faculty (PhDs 60%; MPhil/MS 18%). Many have won honors/awards, enjoy international fame, and are members of prestigious academic/ scientific bodies. Eight faculty members are HEC Distinguished National Professors. The QAU faculty regularly publishes research work as books and papers in prestigious journals. In 2007, its faculty received 65 research grants from outside sources, and published over 500 research papers in international journals (including 380 in impact factor) and 18 books. The Central/Seminar libraries of the University have over 267,000 books and subscribe 284 scientific journals, besides having 130 computers for student use in its main library. Every department has a separate computer laboratory for students and seminar library for reference materials. Currently 2835 in MSc, 1149 in M.Phil and 730 in Ph.D. are enrolled in the University. Among them are 43 percent female students.

In the year 2007-2008 the University provided Rs. 27 million in Students Support Services, which has been increased to Rs. 42 million for 2008-2009. Over 40% students benefit from the Financial Support. University-Industry collaboration is being enhanced. Graduates employability is being increased through good quality education; modern curricula, internship and counseling.

Student's participation in sports and co-curricular activities is encouraged. The Students Societies on Campus include: Literary Society, Dramatic Society, Debating Society, Blood Donors Society, Hiking Club, and Departmental Societies. Boys and girls actively participate in indoor and outdoor sports, including inter-departmental and inter-university tournaments. QAU took active part in the rehabilitation work of October 2005 Earthquake. Donations in the form of kind, cash and medicines were delivered to those affected in AJK NWFP.

The University follows transparent and competitive appointment criteria (BPS, TTS, and Contract), where PhDs are preferred, and qualified visiting faculty is encouraged. Professional Faculty Development Programs through PhD and Post-doc grants; split PhD; academic visits abroad by faculty; participation in conferences/workshops and in-service training is encouraged. Moreover, joint research with outside collaborators is being persuaded.

Quality Assurance is the highest priority, where decisions are made on merit, shared governance, and through statutory bodies, following QAU rules. Appointments are made through advertisement, internal scrutiny, test/presentation, international reviews, followed by University Selection Board and Syndicate.

Admissions are made through country-wide advertisement, GRE/Entry test and other formalities are fulfilled through the Admission Committee and (in the case of MPhil and PhD) the Advanced Studies and Research Board. There are course work and dissertation in MPhil (26 credit hrs) and PhD (44 credit hrs). PhD scholars require two publications, comprehensive exam, external review of theses and public defense for obtaining degree. There is regular updating of curricula and internal evaluation.

QAU aims to attain a status of academic and intellectual power house of Pakistan. Quality enhancement shall be pursued systematically and relentlessly to improve our position among the universities of Asia, the developing nations and, ultimately, the world. The immediate target of QAU is to be ranked in the top 15 of Asia.