Research grant increased from Rs 2m to Rs 110m
Impact factor publications up from 162 to 605 annually
Number of PhDs incresed from 210 to 537
LAHORE: The academic and research statistics of Punjab University reveals that under the dynamic leadership of Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran, PU was progressed considerably in faculty development, research publications.
Comparative analysis of the number of 2007 and 2014 show remarkable achievements. Dr Mujahid Kamran took charge as Vice Chancellor in January of 2008 and immediately increased the research funding of the varsity. In 2007, the research grant was only Rs 2 million, which is now Rs 110 million. The overseas scholarships increased from Rs 45 million to Rs 70 million. PU teachers’ impact factor publications have been increased from 162 to 605 in 2014. Number of PhD teacher incresead from 210 in 2007 out of total faculty 750 (29%) to 537 out of 1,070 (over 50%).
The largest Spanish public sector research organization Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) ranked 24,000 universities in its Webometrics Ranking of World Universities and according to its ranking Punjab University (PU) was ranked among the top 8 per cent universities of the world. According to the ranking, Punjab University was on the 15th position among the 2,107 universities of South Asia, which is a historic achievement.
The overseas scholarship was increased from Rs45 million to Rs70 million. For participation in national and international conferences, teachers were given Rs60 million because of which 145 teachers went to foreign countries in 2014.
In January 2008, PU had a total of 210 PhD teachers out of the total 750, which was a mere 29 per cent of the total faculty. Now in 2015, PhD teachers are 535 out of the total 1,070 – 50 per cent of the total faculty – and the trend is on the rise.
Between the years 1990 and 2007, the university on an average granted 41 PhD, but now the average of PhDs coming out of the university is 145. Apart from this the university has also setup a research endowment fund of Rs500 million. Between 2007 and 2008, this fund was only Rs35 million, but now it would be increased to Rs1 billion. This increase would further improve the ranking of the university in the coming years. Another important indicator of university’s performance is the number of students enrolled in the MPhil and PhD programmes. In 2007, a total of 300 scholars were enrolled in Punjab University, now the number of enrolled MPhil and PhD students is 5,238 – an increase of 17 times.
In the leadership of Dr Mujahid Kamran, the Punjab University was introduced to a depoliticized environment and the influence of a particular political party was reduced. This encouraged an atmosphere friendly to education, research and participation of students in extracurricular activities increased. Between 2008 and 2014, the university students won a total of 1,167 prizes, which include 190 team trophies, 462 first position, 310 second positions and 205 third positions. Apart from this, students won 54 prizes in the Model United Nations Declamation contests. These contests were held in countries including Germany and France, and Pakistan won laurels in the world. The university students won a gold medal in the wrestling competition at the Common Wealth Games and also secured the gold medal in South Asian Women Cricket competition.
In a historic step taken by vice chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran, 208 students from Balochistan are provided with free education along with free living arrangements and Rs3,000 stipend on a monthly basis. This initiative, appreciated by all political and social circles, sparked nationalism in the youth of Balochistan and gave them an opportunity to view other provinces of the country in a different light.
Dr Mujhaid Kamran is also the author of 12 books, out of these 7 were written during his tenure as the vice chancellor. His books have been lauded at the international level.