Man with a great vision

"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 en-gineering 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 programmes 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 counselling 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 37.50 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."