KARACHI: Usman Institute of Technology (UIT), working under Usman Memorial Foundation since last 1994, will get University Status under the Sindh Universities and Institutions Amendment Bill 2018 and the institute will work as full-fledged university soon, said Director of UIT Dr Zahid Ali Syed.
He told Pakistan Today that the UIT had applied for the status of full-fledged University status and that the Sindh Assembly approved the Bill last week.
“After approval of this University Bill 2018, UIT would have a complete university status by 2019, but we would continue with the NED in future owing to its better education programmes.”
Dr Zahir Ali said more than 3800 students had graduated from the university so far. UIT is now affiliated with the NED University of Engineering and Technology and providing quality education to more than 1500 students in its campus located at Abul Hasan Isphahani Road.
He said after getting status of the university, the UIT can initiate its own educational programme or courses in the campus.
“Earlier, we have to get approval from NED University to commence any programme.”
“We are providing quality education to our students at a minimum cost as the UIT is working under the Usman Memorial Foundation 1994,” the Director said. “We never withdrew a single penny of the institution. The Hasham family is the owner of UIT. The Managing Committee of the Foundation plays a significant role in overseeing the affairs of UIT, our effort is to focus on practical education instead of ordinary practices,” he added.
“We are now giving education of Power, electronic and softwares etc and we have to add two more departments in the university soon. “We want to bring UIT at the international standard.”
In response to a question, he said that transfer of power from the governor to chief minister is not an issue, but we have to stop corruption in the public sector institutions.
“After Washington Accord (International agreement between bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programmes), our students will have no problem with international universities and the students will get admission at any university in the world without any admission or entry test etc as our degrees would suffice,” said the director.
He further claimed that as with the other accords, the signatories are committed to development and recognition of good practices in engineering education. The Washington Accord is specifically focused on academic programmes which deal with the practice of engineering at the professional level.
He explained his dissatisfaction with the standards of education of intermediate boards in Sindh as the students are not being prepared for the higher education.
“Pakistani students have great potential and can achieve whatever they want to do,” he claimed.
“In Pakistan, the Higher Education Department (HEC) is working hard for the education sector in Pakistan and the world has recognised its work,” he added.
He opined that the education budget should increase in accordance with capacity as budget increase without it leads to corruption.
“There is a demand of quality engineers for the on-going development projects of CPEC, therefore, several institutions including NED and Karachi University had started providing Chinese Language to the students.”
Usman Memorial Foundation was formed in 1973 in the memory of Late Mohammad Usman, by his family members, friends and well-wishers. AK Brohi was the first President, while Dr Manzoor Ahmad was the Secretary General of the Foundation.