QUALITY ENHANCEMENT CELL

UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI

PERFORMANCE REPORT 2006-09

1. HEC/QAA PROGRAMME: SELF ASSESMENT PROGRAMME AT UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI

 Since the establishment of QEC in 2006, the QAA/HEC programmes are being phase wise introduced in  various departments and the university. In the First phase, the following departments were selected for the implementation of Self Assessment Programme:

        Phase I :

        Department of Commerce.

        Department of Public Administration.

        Institute of Environmental Studies.

        Department of Bio-Chemistry.

        In the Second phase, the following departments shall be included:

        Department of Sociology & Criminology

        Department of General History

        Department of International Relations

• FOR THE LINKAGE BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRIES, a Department wise Post Graduate Directory is being developed by the QEC. In this context, an advertisement in the National press has already appeared and the data is being compiled to strength University linkage with Industries and professionals.

• On the advice of the Vice Chancellor, a Department wise survey of "Regular Masters Student" is being conducted.

2. TO POPULARIZE THE CONCEPT OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, the Quality Enhancement Cell has organized the following events for teaching and non-teaching staff of the University:

• An extension lecture by a senior director from a leading multinational company entitled “Be a Leader of Change” for university officers was organized on 29th April 2006. The lecture was an attempt to equip the University officials with emerging changes in higher education and university administration

• An intensive “Teaching and Research Skills Development Course” for lecturers and Assistant Professors was organized on 6th – 8th May 2006. The objective of the course was to enlighten the young teachers about best practices in learning and teaching.

• The university is of the well considered view that Quality Enhancement programmes in education necessitate quality conducive environment and with this background, an intensive course on “Office Management, Noting, Drafting, Computers and Photostat machines handling” for the non-teaching staff members was held on 3rd – 6th June 2006. 38 non-teaching staff members were enrolled in the programme.

• The university was also conducted an “Office Automation course” during 11th – 15th July 2006 for its non-teaching staff members. The course included the following contents:-

• Introduction to Computer

• Introduction to Office Automation

• Microsoft Office (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point)

• The QEC in collaboration with Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi with partial financial support from HEC organized a two Day National Seminar on “Teaching of Social Sciences at the Universities”, 15th –16th September, 2006.

• Besides the above activities of the QEC, the Teachers Resource Centre University of Karachi in collaboration with NAHE (National Academy of Higher Education) and Higher Education Commission has conducted three intensive Staff Development courses. The first was organized in December 2005, the second and third has been completed in June 2006 and May 2007.
• Similarly a Six- Days In-Service Training Course on Physiology during 7th –12th August 2006, was organized by Department of Physiology Department, University of Karachi.

        In addition, the QEC has organized the following events for awareness on quality education and

        research:

• An extension lecture of Dr. Ali Sirazi from Tehran University, Mashad, Iran on “Qualitative Research” at Department of Public Administration, University of Karachi. The event was attended by all the faculty members and 80 students of Public Administration department on 7th November 2006. 

• An extension lecture on “The education and local government in U.K.” was presented by Lord Shaukat Nawaz Khan was organized on 7th November 2006. The lecture emphasized on the importance of quality research and teaching in U.K.

• The Director QEC presented a lecture on “Quality Teaching” in the Staff Development Programme, Human Resource Centre, National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), University of Karachi 9th Jan. 2007

• A second course was conducted on “Office Management” for the non-teaching staff members during 26th Feb – 3rd March 2007. 38 non-teaching staff members were enrolled in the programme.

• The Director QEC presented a lecture on “Impact of Climate Change on Economic Activities in Coastal Areas” organized by Area Study Center for Europe, University of Karachi 26th April 2007.

• The Director QEC presented an intensive lecture on “Quality Teaching” at Teacher's Resource Centre, University of Karachi 11th May 2007.

• The Director QEC conducted a multimedia presentation on “Quality Teaching and Performance Indicators” arranged by the Teacher’s Resource Centre, University of Karachi in collaboration with NAHE (National Academy of Higher Education) 17th May 2007.

• To enhance the quality of research, the QEC in collaboration with Faculty of Arts has also organized an advance course on “Research Methodology” for the enrolled M.Phil/ Ph.D. students in social sciences, humanities and languages. The course was held during 25th June – 14th July 2007, the 2^nd advance course on Research Methodology for the enrolled M.Phil/ Ph.D. students in social sciences, humanities and languages was held during 15^th August – 11th September 2007. About 300 students have benefited from the course(174+132). And the 3^rd course has also been conducted during 19^th November 2007 to 10^th December 2007.

• The Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi in collaboration with Quality Enhancement Cell University of Karachi and Higher Education Commission has organized an “Inter-disciplinary Social Sciences International Conference (ISSIC 2007)”, during 4^th –5th September, 2007.

• Course on "Importance of Communication skills and Professional Ethics"; 18th - 30th July 2008 for Lecturers and Assistant Professors.

• The Faculty of Arts in collaboration with Quality Enhancement Cell, University of Karachi and Higher Education Commission has organized an Interdisciplinary International Conference on "Media and Social Change -- IICMSC-2008" during 5^th – 6^th November, 2008.

• The Quality Enhancement Cell, University of Karachi has organized an information seminar on “Opportunities for Scholarship and Higher Studies in German Universities” on 17^th February 2009.

            The Director QEC has participated in the following events:

• Academic Audit training workshop, Quality Assurance Agency, Higher Education Commission Government of Pakistan 31st Jan.- 1^st Feb. 2006.

• Attended workshop on Self Assessment of Academic Programmes, Higher Education Commission Government of Pakistan 10-11^th May 2006.

• Attended Multidisciplinary International Conference on “Qualitative Research in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges” organized by Faculty of Arts University of Karachi 3^rd – 4^th Nov. 2006.

• Attended International Conference on “Emerging Scenario: Survival of Muslim Youth in the Realm of Violence & Mental Health” organized by Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi in collaboration with Higher Education Commission 14^th Nov. 2006.

• Attended the International Conference on “Assessing Quality in Higher Education” University of Punjab, Lahore 11^th – 13^th Dec. 2006.

• Attended the Conference of Pakistan Sociological Association on “Crime in Pakistan: Causes and Prevention” January 15, 2007 organized by Pakistan Sociological Association and Department of Sociology, Criminology and Population Sciences, University of Karachi.
• Member of the Organizing Committee of Two Day Seminar on "The Role of Local Government: Challenges and Opportunities", March 26-27, 2007 organized by Department of Public Administration, University of Karachi in Collaboration with Quality Enhancement Cell.

• Member of the Organizing Committee of the seminar on “Dissemination of Justice and the Role of Ombudsman in Pakistan” 21st April 2007 organized by the Department of Political Science, University of Karachi in collaboration with Quality Enhancement Cell, University of Karachi.
• The director QEC has attended an international workshop on “Development of Measurements for Higher Education in Quality Assurance” organized by Asia Pacific Quality Network and American International University Bangladesh, May 30-31 2007 at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• The Director QEC has been member of Organizing Committee of the various conferences and Plagiarism Committee of the University.

3. TO ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH OUTPUT FOR COMPETING GLOBALLY.

• The Quality Enhancement Cell, University of Karachi has become the member of Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) to promote good practice in the maintenance and improvement of quality in higher education in the Asia-Pacific. The network brings together constituencies with an interest in QA and facilitates face-to-face and electronic events and discussion.