Universities should honour their research potential if they wish to play a dynamic role in stabilising the national economy and achieve social equilibrium, newly-appointed Government College University (GCU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Khaliqur Rehman said on Monday after taking charge of his office.
He was talking to senior faculty members. Khaliq said that the menace of extremism, sectarian hatred, conservatism and intellectual barrenness could only be wiped out if our academia ventures to play a dynamic role. “If we intend to keep hope alive in the current abyss of gloom and doom, it is responsibility of the academia to enlighten the nation through research in social science as well as science and technology,” he said.
Khaliq stressed upon the need to obliterate the chasm between the elite and downtrodden by offering quality education to all irrespective of one’s power to afford it. He said that varsities should enhance support for deserving and talented students so that they could continue their studies without any financial pressure. Khaliq also shared his recent experience of visiting European universities with faculty members and wished to bring academic and research activities at GCU at par with the best universities of the world.
“Seeking light from the glorious past, we need to enlighten our future path leading to international acclaim,” Khaliq said while discussing in detail the traditions and culture of GCU with its senior professors. The first meeting of all administrative and academic heads with Khaliq would held today (Tuesday) at the NM Rashid Hall.
Before his appointment as 28th head of the 147-year-old institution, Khaliq was working as the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) physics department chairman. He was awarded the highest Presidential Award Izaz-e-Kamal for his meritorious services to education in 2009. The GCU VC received the HEC Best Teacher Award for his extraordinary academic work in 2008. The Pakistan Institute of Physics (PIP) awarded Khaliq the Fellowship Gold Medal, as token of recognition for his outstanding contribution to advancement of Physics in Pakistan. Khaliq did his PhD in Physics from Manchester University, UK. The British government also bestowed upon him the Overseas Research Students Award twice in 1986 and 1987.
He has written over 100 research articles published in international journals to his credit besides several books.
