Day: December 3, 2021

Rawalpindi, December 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) of Higher Education Commission (HEC) emphasizes on universities to maintain/enhance the quality of teaching and learning to achieve the international compatibility and competitiveness of their academic programs through on-site review/inspection of MS/MPhil/Equivalent and PhD (level 7 and 8) programs.

A HEC’s Panel of Experts comprising Prof. Dr. Tauseef Rajput, Dean, Shifa Tameer-e- Millat University, Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Syeda Kauser Ali, Professor Medical Education, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, and Dr. Allah Rakha, Director QEC, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, along with HEC Representative/Coordinator, Ms Humaira Quddus visited NUMS for Postgraduate (PG) Programs Review on November 24-25, 2021.

During the visit, the Panel undertook detailed inspection of five PhD, two Masters and eleven Master of Philosophy programs, covering the review of NUMS’ academic policies/procedures, curricula of programs, frequency of the meetings of statutory bodies, compliance to various clauses of the University Act and faculty/students’ dossiers, as per the HEC requirements.

On arrival to NUMS, the Panel was welcomed by Director QA, Air Cdre Muhammad Ismail, SI(M), (Retd), Director Academics, Prof Dr Dilshad Ahmed Khan SI(M), (Retd) and Dr Erum Monis, Assistant Director QA. An opening meeting with NUMS’ core team under the Chairmanship of Pro Vice Chancellor (Adm), Maj Gen Syed Ammar Reza Hamdani, HI (M), (Retd) was held. The Chair welcomed the HEC’s Panel. Director QA delivered a presentation on ‘Introduction to NUMS’ during the meeting.

The Panel worked in Program Review Activity Room. All required documents were provided by QA Directorate after collection from constituent institutions of NUMS, namely, Army Medical College (AM College), Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI) and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) where, currently, postgraduate programs are being conducted.

After documents review, the Panel proceeded to AM College, where the Principal, Maj Gen Sayed Nusrat Raza, HI(M) and his team led by Brig Amir Rasheed, Head of Local Quality Enhancement Cell (L-QEC) warmly welcomed and briefed the panel on various activities undertaken by the prestigious institution for the improvement of teaching, learning and assessment of programs.

The Panel members met with the Deans and Heads of Departments (HoDs), the faculty and PG students in separate sessions and heard their comments and suggestions. Later, ‘MARKS’ (Multimedia Assessment of Realistic Knowledge and Skills) for conducting professional examinations was visited.

On the second day, the HEC’s Panel visited AFIP. After an introductory meeting with Commandant/Dean AFIP, Maj Gen Hafeez Ud Din HI(M), team was led by Head of L-QEC, Maj Gen Irfan Ali Mirza, to inspect various facilities available for the PG students; classrooms, library, laboratories and READ (Research, Ethics and Academics Department).

The Panel met at VC’s Secretariat for compilation of the Review Report, wherein Provost (QA and RD), Prof Dr Syed Mehmood Raza, Registrar, Brig Dr Azhar Shams, TI (M), (Retd), Director Academics, Director Research Prof Dr Aisha Mohyuddin, Director Digital Technologies, Mr Khurram Shahzad and Representative of HR Dte were interviewed.

An exit meeting took place at VC’s Secretariat, chaired by the Vice Chancellor NUMS, Lt Gen Syed Muhammad Imran Majeed, HI (M), and (Retd). The Panel Chairperson briefed the VC on the salient findings of the review visit. The VC appreciated the efforts put in by the Panel and assured the Panel of compliance to its recommendations in letter and spirit for further improvement of the NUMS Programs.

For more information, contact:
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
The Mall, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9270677
Email: info@numspak.edu.pk
Website: http://numspak.edu.pk

Rawalpindi, December 03, 2021 (PPI-OT):NUMS Department of Biological Sciences (NDBS) conducted a two-day activity on 25th and 26th November 2021 to celebrate World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), with an aim to spread awareness about antibiotic resistance; a global public health concern. School, college and university students were engaged for these activities which included an agar art competition and a video competition. A webinar was also organized in which renowned speakers from prestigious institutes of Pakistan gave talks.

The two-day event opened with the recitation of Holy Quran followed by a welcome note by HoD NDBS, Dr. Muhammad Jawad Hassan, to the onsite participants which consisted of school, college and university students.

Dr. Jawad presented a detailed overview of the department and faculty. The department is committed to quality teaching and research and secured more than 80 Million of research grants in Biological Sciences, he told the house. Dr. Wasim Sajjad, the Program Coordinator, also presented a talk on science popularization to promote the culture of science in students.

Thirty-five (35) students from different institutes across Pakistan participated in the Agar Art Competition. They used colourful microbes as paint to create visual masterpieces on agar media. Twenty (20) participants submitted short video clips with a focus on spreading awareness regarding antibiotic misuse and resistance.

On second day of the activity, participants attended the online webinar online and onsite. Professor Aisha Mohyuddin (Dean Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies-MDS) welcomed the speakers, Dr. Saeed Khan, Professor of Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences and Dr. Afrinish Amir, Technical Officer, NIH, Pakistan.

Dr. Aman Karim, Associate Professor, of NDBS moderated the webinar session. Speakers briefed the audience about the current scenario of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and future challenges for Pakistan. In the panel discussion Dr. Saeed Ahmed, Dr. Raees Khan and Dr. Liaqat Ali discussed the issue of misuse and overused of antibiotics and emphasized on finding the alternative to antibiotics by the collaborative research.

Professor Dr. Syed Mahmood Raza, Provost QA and RD, concluded the session and distributed cash prizes and certificates among the position holders who competed in agar art competition and video competition. The winners in Agar Art Competition were Rameesha Abid from Capital University of Sciences and Technology (CUST) (1st prize), Sidra Qamar (2nd prize) and Ayesha Noor (3rd prize), both from National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS).

In the video competition, the AFPGMI-NUMS team Muhammad Haseeb, Ahmed and Aman, secured 1st position, Fizza Maryam and Faiza Arshad from NUMS got 2nd position while Hawaid Ahmed and Rameen Saeed (A super-talented ten-year-old) shared the 3rd position prize. Professor Dr. Syed Mahmood Raza applauded the efforts made by Department of Biological Sciences and also appreciated the participants for their creative endeavors.

For more information, contact:
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
The Mall, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9270677
Email: info@numspak.edu.pk
Website: http://numspak.edu.pk