LAHORE, Oct 26: Punjab University vice-chancellor Dr Muhammad Arif Butt has said the varsity syndicate and its teacher associations endorse the entrance test through the National Testing Service for admission to its various departments.

He was speaking at a meeting during which Governor Khalid Maqbool reviewed mega projects being carried out at the university. The governor stressed that quality of education and research should be improved in collaboration with the government and the Higher Education Commission.

The governor was informed about the details of ongoing academic and research projects being carried out in different departments of the university. He was told that the HEC had approved Rs7 billion funds for infrastructure projects of 46 departments of the university. So far projects worth Rs5 billion had been started and 80 per cent of work had already been completed.

The government, he said, was providing ample resources to improve the standard of education in universities. He said Pakistani youth had immense talent and the government was establishing new set-ups in the universities by providing them higher education opportunities so that they could play their vital role in national development.

He said the government was establishing universities’ sub-campuses in other cities to provide education to the students at their doorsteps.

Funds for academic research were being enhanced, said the governor, who underscored the need for digitalisation of libraries in universities. He said the government also wanted that the university teachers should be offered to purchase personal computers on subsidised rates.

The briefing on mega projects were given by School of Biological Science director Prof Dr M Waheed Akhtar, Dean of Science Prof Dr Chaudhry Muhammad Jamil Anwar, Director Institute of Business and Information Technology Prof Dr Nayyar Raza Zaidi, Principal University College of Information Technology Dr Mansoor Sarwar, Director Institute of Quality and Technology Management Dr Niaz Ahmad, Chairman Department of Physics Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Dr Ahmad Mahmood Mumtaz of College of Pharmacy, Director Centre for Clinical Psychology Prof Dr Nosheen K Rehman, Director Microelectronic Research Centre for Prof Dr Shahzad Naseem, University Project Director Sheikh Muhammad Ali, University Engineer Mir Pervez Khurshid and Nashir Aziz of IT Centre.

Later, the governor visited the PU’s Institute of Quality and Technology Management. Institute director Dr Niaz Ahmad briefed the governor on various ongoing programmes. He said it was the only institute in the country that was offering quality management education.

At present, he said, some 500 students were studying four programmes being offered at the institute.

The governor visited various sections of the institute, including computer laboratory and library, and asked the students about the standard of education and problems being faced by them.