SSUET set to launch new courses

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, is all set to launch new courses in near future with ;Management Sciences’ being on top of the list.

"The new course of Management Sciences, to include MBA and BBA, will start after its formal approval by the university's Academic Council and finally 'go ahead' from the Board of Governors,” the SSUET Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid H Rizvi, in an interview. 

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the university, having started with only two technologies of Computer and Electronic Engineering in 1994, now had as many as 10 disciplines with three technologies of Electrical, Architecture and Software Engineering having been added in 2014 while its enrollment grew from 200 students to over 6,043 students in 2016. 

“We started with just a couple of technologies but now we have expanded the programme to 10 new departments. We have plans in hand to further expand the university keeping in view the national, international demand and market trend,” he remarked. 

He informed that the university has produced more than 14,000 graduates so far and the aim was to turn out true professionals who can face competitive world of today and tomorrow with full confidence when they enter practical life.

Prof Dr Jawaid Rizvi said that the ultimate test of the institution lied in successfully achieving job placements for its graduating students. “The situation is encouraging and our graduates are well placed, either pursuing higher education doing MS or Ph.D or doing jobs abroad or in Pakistan,” he added. 

He said that there were a large number of graduates in business and recently, in order to further reinforce career planning and placement function, the university had upgraded the function and renamed the department as Centre of Guidance and Career Planning and Placement Bureau (CGCPPB) headed by a senior and internationally experienced Adviser. 

The bureau is taking number initiatives to facilitate students in internship programs in industry and also helping senior students and graduates in their career development. 

Prof Dr Jawaid Rizvi stated that in accordance with Higher Education Commission's guidelines, a Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC), headed by a very senior level professor doctor as its Director. It is regularly organizing training workshops and some of the faculty members were sent to Thailand for advanced training in quality education. 

 At the end of each semester the QEC carries out a student feedback survey to incorporate suggestions and comments of students in our educational system, he added. 

Replying a question the VC said that the curriculum is regularly updated through university’s’ Statutory Bodies in conformity with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) standards and remain at par with the contemporary and future requirements in the fields of engineering, science, and technology. 

He said that the statutory bodies appointed by the government regularly visit this university and evaluate its academic activities, research work, faculty performance and all other functions. The HEC had graded SSUET in W-4 category and its engineering programs accredited by PEC while Chartered Inspection and Evaluation Committee (CIEC) had rated the SSUET as 5-star University. 

He described the university’s admission policy straight forward with merit-based admission while strictly observing HEC, PEC quite strictly.

He said the University generously offers scholarships to students based on merit and also offers financial assistance to deserving needy students to ensure students are not deprived of studies due to any genuine financial constraint. 

He disclosed that the SSUET was a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and a member of International Association of Universities (IAU). Sponsored by UNESCO, the university was on the Board of Governors of IAU for 8 years. 

To a question Prof Dr Jawaid Rizvi said the university coordinates with professional bodies like IEEE USA and IEEE Pakistan, Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), Pakistan Software Board besides having close working relationship with KCCI and FPCCI, which are represented in the university committees like Finance and Planning, Board of Studies, Board of Faculties and Academic Council. 

He informed that every year the university bring out its research journal and give incentives to faculty members and research scholars for conducting research. It has an impressive library with a total of 92,560 text books, reference books and a Book Bank besides a Digital Library and each department having its own library. 

The Vice Chancellor said that the university organized job fairs and displays projects, posters of projects. These are attended by professionals, management level personnel and entrepreneurs. In order to cope with growing future demand of the university, 

Prof Dr Jawaid Rizvi stated that it has 200 acres of land in the Education City where its new campus will be built with all necessary facilities for learning and recreation. 

A concept plan of new campus has been prepared and the SSUET Chancellor, Jawaid Anwar, has formed a Master Plan Committee to prepared MP in conformity with the overall MP of Education City.