Thursday, June 18, 2009

Hamdard University


Hamdard University - Introduction
The green landscape, irrigated by the Hub River, flowing at a close distance,presents an ideal landscape suited to learning and research pursuits, away from the hectic life of the cosmopolitan city of Karachi. The gardens, farms,fields and avenues of the main campus offer a panorama where nature seems to manifest itself uninhibitedly. Within its boundaries, beautiful buildings of the various faculties and departments are situated in a well planned backdrop of over 350 acres.
The emergence of Hamdard University on the educational scene of Pakistan is a relatively recent phenomenon but the progress it has made so far is phenomenal. The University,however, does not want to rest on its achievements and therefore strives hard for further expansion in order to be at par with renowned universities.
The Main Campus of Hamdard University at Madinat al-Hikmah spreads over a plain land with picture sque landscape, located in the vicinity of Sindh Balochistan border 28 km from the commercial center of Karachi, on the main highway leading to Murad Khan Dam (Bund). The location of the campus is of great historical and geographical significance. It lies on the main highway,which connects it to the Hub Chowki on the road to Quetta.
It is situated along the Hub River on the borders of Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The site, according to the renowned archaeologists, is the place where Muhammad Bin Qasim, who made Sindh the gateway of Islam in the sub-continent, landed on his way to Daibal. The Campus is also closer to yet another historic site i.e. the shrine of Shah Noorani in the Lasbela district of Balochistan.Access to the university has been further extended for the people of the South West and North due to the development of Northern By-pass which connects Super Highway to the university at one hand and with Balochistan on the other.The green scenery, irrigated by the Hub River, flowing at a closer distance, presents an ideal site suited to learning and research pursuits, away from the hectic life of the cosmopolitan city of Karachi. The gardens, farms, fields and avenues of the main campus offer a panorama where nature seems to manifest itself uninhibitedly. Within its boundaries, beautiful buildings of the various faculties and departments are situated in a well planned landscape area of over 350 acres.
It is in the proximity of this natural landscape and historical site that Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said decided to establish Hamdard University, now one of the biggest private seats of learning in Pakistan. The University has the following Faculties:
Faculty of Eastern Medicine Faculty of Engineering Sciences & Technology Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Legal Studies Faculty of Management Sciences Faculty of Pharmacy
In addition to the main campus at Madinat al-Hikmah, the University has the following campuses:Islamabad Campus Karachi City Campuses Adamjee Nagar Campus (HIMS - City Campus) P.E.C.H.S. Campus (HIIT - City Campus)
Three well-equipped teaching hospitals of the University for the training of the students of medical sciences are as follows :Hamdard University Hospital Hamdard University Dental Hospital Shifa-ul-Mulk Memorial Hospital
In addition, the University maintains various institutions in downtown Karachi. These include:Hamdard School of Law Hamdard Education Net Regional Cisco Networking Academy
Hamdard University’s sphere of activity in education of science and technology is extended to the capital city of Islamabad, where its campus offers programs in pharmaceutical sciences, management sciences and information technology.
The resources of the University are devoted to fulfill its mission, aimed at developing qualified, value-oriented p rofessionals and scholars, capable of creating new horizons on the glorious foundations of oriental heritage of knowledge. The University provides an academic and conducive environment, which is based on the philosophical belief that the ultimate reality can be reached through pure reason and intellectual pursuits. It is an endeavor to enliven the academic tradition of educational institutions of the “Golden Era” of Muslim Civilization and therefore an attempt to achieve success and glories through imbibing the present day rising curve of knowledge.
Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said, the Founder-Chancellor of Hamdard University, received the Charter in 1991 in a solemn ceremony from the then President of Pakistan, Mr.Ghulam Ishaq Khan. An area of about 350 acres was earmarked for the main campus. The Madinat al-Hikmah (City of Education, Science & Culture) encompasses, inaddition to the establishments of the University, Herbal Gardens, Sports Stadium, Hamdard Public School,Hamdard College and Hamdard Village School, operating as its earliest institutions, imparting education from primary to tertiary level.
The Hamdard Institute of Education & Social Sciences (HIESS) and Hamdard Al-Majeed College of Eastern Medicine (HACEM) were among the earliest institutions established at the inception of the University. The other institutions that appeared in the later stages include Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry (HCM&D),Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences (HIMS),Hamdard Institute of Information Technology (HIIT), Dr.Hafiz Mohammed Ilyas Institute of Pharmacology & Herbal Sciences (HMIIPHS), Hamdard School of Law (HSL),Hamdard Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (HIPS),Hamdard Research Institute of Unani Medicine (HRIUM),Hamdard Education Net (HEN), Regional Cisco Networking Academy (RCNA) and Environmental Studies Center. In addition to this process of institutional multiplication, which is continuously going on, the growth of the University, in terms of the extension of its services to public, has been regular. In 1996, the first city campus of the University was established at Adamjee Nagar. Afterwards another campus at PECHS was opened. The city campuses offer day and evening programs in addition to the weekend programs.
The history of the academic programs, offered during the period by the constituent institutions, presents a remarkable picture of regular growth and extension. The University, starting its journey with a couple of programs in 1992, is now offering almost 30 programs ranging from certificate courses to doctoral level studies, in the disciplines of education and social sciences, legal studies, eastern medicine, health sciences, pharm a c y, management, engineering and information technology. The University ensures that the faculty and staff members are employed on the principle of merit to give the University a cutting edge in human resource development and mobilization.
Enrollment in these programs has also been steadily increasing. This fact manifests itself in the number of degree-holders in the consecutive twelve convocations held till the year 2008. In these convocations more than 13,400 students received degrees. The total number of students being enrolled in different programs at HamdardUniversity is on constant rise. These eighteen (18) years of Hamdard University are also the years of financial stability and continuous growth. The number of teaching and nonteaching employees,working in different institutes and departments of the University, is an indicator of this growth. During the period, five organizations based in major cities of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad which were imparting professional education in different disciplines, also got affiliated with the University.
The development process of the University is thus going on at all levels with unparallel vigor. The University has already acquired the position of a large-size organization and is committed to maintain its enviable record in future.Under a development strategy, the University will conso-lidate its programs and activities on its existing campuses offering better facilities to more students. Future investments over the remaining part of the first decade of the 21st century will deliver:Even more flexible study optionsl More popular courses at various campuses Highly innovative and professional subjects combinations Improved knowledge sharing teachers and students interaction It is Hamdard University’s great achievement that dedicated, hardworking and enthusiastic people work as a team that constantly serve the cause of ‘better quality’ education in Pakistan. Hamdard University’s current population is over five thousand students. The strength of the permanent and visiting faculty members is 550,which gives a very impressive teacher-student ratio of 1:11. The degree programs offered by the University are approved by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and other accrediting bodies such as Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC),Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP), Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and National Council for Tibb (NCT). In recognition of Hamdard University’s excellent resources, high profile faculty and state-of-the-art learning facilities, Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has awarded “W” category to the Hamdard University. (“W”category is awarded on the basis of fulfillment of Cabinet criteria for establishing a university). Further,the Charter Inspection & Evaluation Committee (CIEC), Government of Sindh has accorded the University the highest ranking “Four Star” status. (Four Star ranking is awarded to those universities that have fulfilled the Charter requirements and have highest standards of academics,research, faculty and infrastructure).

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