Quaid-i-Azam University

Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
'Baab-ul-Quaid' - Entrance of the University
Motto	وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
Motto in English	"and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing"
Established	1967
Type	Public, Research and Co-educational
Chancellor	President of Pakistan
Vice-Chancellor	Dr. Masoom Yasinzai
Students	more than 2,400
Location	Islamabad, Pakistan
Former names	University of Islamabad
Colors	Green      White
Sports	Cricket, Football, Table Tennis
Affiliations	Higher Education Commission
Website	www.qau.edu.pk
Quaidian Once - Quaidian Forever

The Quaid-i-Azam University (Urdu: جامعہ قائداعظم) is a public, research university in Islamabad Capital Territory of Pakistan. It is located in the Margalla Hills and initially founded as the "University of Islamabad" in July 1967.

The university was renamed to "Quaid-i-Azam University" in 1976 at the time of centenary celebrations of the Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah after his title "Quaid-i-Azam" meaning "Great Leader". The University is rated as one of the top public institution of higher education in Pakistan which has qualified team of teachers and researchers.

The alumnus of the university is called as Quadian and the slogan used by the students of Quaid-i-Azam University is Quaidian Once - Quaidian Forever.

History

The University was established as University of Islamabad under an Act of National Assembly passed in July, 1967. It started teaching and research program for M.Phil & Ph.D. degrees. Later on, it was decided to start M.Sc. degree program for graduates from all regions of the country, based on regional quota. The University was housed initially in rented buildings in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi and moved to its current campus in October 1971, which is located in the Margalla Hills near the shrine of Hazrat Bari Imam.

Organization

Administration

The University is headed by the vice-chancellor. The administration section is composed of the Registrar, Controller Examinations, and several other offices regarding management and administration. Each faculty is lead by the dean and departments works under the chair and directors.

Faculties and Departments

Stupa in the University campus

Faculty Building of Defence & Strategic Studies Department

Quaid-i-Azam University consists of four faculties and following departments are associated with these faculties;

1. Faculty of Natural Sciences
   1. Department of Chemistry
   2. Department of Computer Sciences
   3. Department of Earth Sciences
   4. Department of Electronics
   5. Institute of Information Technology
   6. Department of Mathematics
   7. Department of Physics
   8. Department of Statistics
2. Faculty of Social Sciences
   1. Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences
   2. Department of Anthropology
   3. Department of Defence and Strategic Studies
   4. School of Economics
   5. Department of History
   6. Department of International Relations
   7. Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations
3. Faculty of Biological Sciences
   1. Department of Animal Sciences
   2. Department of BioChemistry
   3. Department of Microbiology
   4. Department of Plant Sciences
   5. Department of Bio Technology
   6. National Center for Bioinformatics
4. Faculty of Medicine (Following Institutes in Islamabad are affiliated with this faculty)
   1. Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital Rawalpindi
   2. Armed Forces Medical College, Rawalpindi
   3. Health Services Academy, Islamabad
   4. Quaid e Azam Postgraduate Medical College (QPGMC), PIMS
   5. Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad
   6. FGSH Postgraduate Medical Istitute, Islamabad

Institutes

1. National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, Islamabad
2. Center of Excellence in Gender Studies
3. National Defence College, Islamabad
4. National Institute of Psychology, QAU, Islamabad
5. School of Economics, QAU, Islamabad
6. QASMS, QAU, Islamabad
7. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, QAU, Islamabad
8. Computer Centre
9. Area Study Centre for Africa, North & South America

Academic Profile

Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqui Memorial Library, Quaid i Azam University

Libraries

Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqui Memorial Libabry is the Central Library named after the first Vice-Chancellor of the University. He also served as the Emeritus professor of Physics at the University until his death in 1998. The Central Library contains over 1,95,000 volumes and subscribes more than 276 current titles of international journals. It provides computerized retrieval of bibliographic library database i.e. Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) for thousands of journals and online databases. The library also has a substantial collection of United Nations as a depository library. Quaid-i-Azam University campus is also linked with HEC digital library which provides access to many worldwide online databases. Some departments have their subject specific libraries located in the departmental buildings. These seminar libraries are located in the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Defense and Strategic Studies, Economics, History, and Physics.

Research

Quaid-i-Azam University has its reputation as a research facility all over the country. Quaid-i-Azam University has established research collaboration with universities in the United States, Europe and South Asia. Among several other internationally collaborated activities are The Asian African Association for Plasma Training being carried out in many developing countries of the world.

Rankings and Reputation

For QS Top 100 Asian universities QAU was ranked 46th in natural science category for year 2010. The university was overall ranked between 500-600 among the QS world top universities in 2007 and 2009. According to the 2006 ranking of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University is ranked first in the general category. As per rankings of OIC universities, QAU stood first in ranking among Muslim countries universities. More than 80% of the teachers hold doctoral degrees and have overseas experience.

Student life

Student Organizations

QAU has a quota merit system with specific seats for each province. This diverse cultural landscape gives uniqueness to the University in Pakistan and students coming from different areas of Pakistan represent their cultural values in the students cultural councils. Mehran Students' Council is the first most Student's Cultural Council since 1983. It was founded by Raj Kumar Ahuja.

Accommodation and Transport

The University provides accommodation for students and staff members. The students accommodation is in the hostels, separate for boys and girls, and houses for staff members near the campus facilities.

The University buses provode transport to and from different sectors of Islamabad and main areas of Rawalpindi city for students and staff not living in the University managed accommodation.

Extracurricular Acitivities

The University has a gym for sports facilities, and hosts and participates in national level inter-universities debates and poetry events. The university held competition countrywide.

Alumni

Quaid-i-Azam University has an alumni association which is still in the process of formalisation.

List of Significant Scholars who have been affiliated with the University

• Ahmed Hassan Dani
• Muhammad Suhail Zubairy
• Muhammad Islam
• Akbar S. Ahmed
• Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema
• Pervez Hoodbhoy
• Noor Muhammad
• Riazuddin (physicist)
• Tasawar Hayat
• Tasneem M. Shah
• Mazhar Mahmood Qurashi
• Qaiser Mushtaq
• Shamshad Akhtar
• Fayyazuddin
• Raziuddin Siddiqui
• Zia Mian
• Ghulam Murtaza

See also

• List of Universities in Pakistan
• Higher Education Commission
• Margalla Hills
• Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University

External links

• Official Website of Quaid-i-Azam University
• QAU Alumini Association
• HEC Ranking