UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said that the HEC had played role in the development of the country and to ensure the quality education. He said let us look at the unprecedented amount of scholarships offered by HEC to establish a platform for higher studies abroad. Sending their children abroad for higher studies, which once was just a cherished dream of middle class parents, was brought within the range of every student who has passion for knowledge and research and who enters a university with a committed goal, he added.
HEC has awarded 25,000 scholarships to students including indigenous, overseas and need-based scholarships and Prime Minister's fee reimbursements scheme. It is no wonder that with vibrant and consistent support of HEC Pakistan has emerged as a country with highest highly-cited papers percentage compared to Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) countries as per Thompson Reuters report.
Dean Agriculture Dr Muhammad Amjad said that HEC has promoted research culture in the university. As a result the number of PhDs at UAF, during 2001-2017, have increased from 300 to 1593. Indigenous PhD fellowship programs launched by HEC have not only supported meritorious students but also promoted poor scholars to transform their dreams of PhD into reality.
Chairman PBG Dr Hafeez Sadaqat said that HEC has paved the way to all agriculture universities, including UAF to work hard in mandatory responsibilities such as human resource development and agricultural research in true spirit. He said that 40 per cent of the UAF students were getting scholarship.
Director Soil Sciences Dr Javed Akhtar said that UAF admits the students on the district quota. He said that UAF has surpassed the landmark status of inclusion among the top 100 universities of the world. Presently, 288 PhD scholars are availing the facility of HEC funded fellowship while 541 have passed out with distinction and are serving in the different segments of the society.
ORIC Director Zahir Ahmad Zahir said that UAF has established a research culture at the campus and research funding from diversified sources is more than 2.6 billion where one third is of international funding and one third sponsored by HEC. Dr Ghulam Murtaza said that HEC role for the promotion of the education was marvelous.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017