Niaz Ahmad Akhtar

Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (Urdu: نیاز احمد اختر ) is a Pakistani academic who is serving as the vice-chancellor of the University of the Punjab.[1] Previously, he served as the rector of the National Textile University, Faisalabad,[2] vice-chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila[3] and the vice-chancellor of the Information Technology University, Lahore.[4] He is also the founding director of the Institute of Quality and Technology Management[3] and the Quality Enhancement Cell[5] at the University of the Punjab, Lahore. He also served as the vice-chairman (Punjab) of the Pakistan Engineering Council.[6]

Niaz Ahmad Akhtar
Vice-Chancellor University of the Punjab
In office
June 2018 – Present
Vice-Chancellor University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
In office
December 2014 – June 2018
Rector National Textile University
In office
August 2009 – December 2014
Vice-Chairman (Punjab), Pakistan Engineering Council
In office
2012–2018
Vice-Chancellor Information Technology University (Additional Charge)
In office
January 2019 – June 2020
Personal details
BornJune 15, 1962
Dera Ghazi Khan
NationalityPakistani
Alma materUniversity of the Punjab
University of Leeds
ProfessionChemical Engineer
AwardsSitara-i-Imtiaz

In recognition of his outstanding performance in the field of Education (Engineering & Technology), he was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in 2015.[7]

Early life and education
Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, receiving Sitara-i-Imtiaz at the Governor House, Lahore, Pakistan

Akhtar was born on 15 June, 1962 [8] in Basti Dosa, Dera Ghazi Khan.[9] He has an undergraduate and a master's degree in Chemical Engineering, from the University of the Punjab, Lahore.[8][9] He did his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Leeds, UK in 1995.[1]

Career

Akhtar began his teaching career at the University of the Punjab as a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering in 1988. In 1995, he went to Bahrain and became the Senior Lecturer and Head of Chemical Engineering Discipline at the Bahrain Training Institute. He came back to serve his country in 2001 and joined as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, University of the Punjab. In 2004, he became a Professor at the University of the Punjab, Lahore and served in this capacity until 2009. In 2002, Akhtar established Quality Management Division under the Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology with following two objectives:

• To produce Quality Professionals to serve in Manufacturing & Services Sector.

• To formulate Quality Standards for Higher Education Sector in the country.

This Division was upgraded to Institute of Quality & Technology Management in 2004 and Akhtar was appointed as the founding director of this institute. The institute is presently offering BS, MS, & PhD degree in field of Industrial Engineering & Quality Management. Akhtar has also served as Founder Director of the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) and the Director Student Affairs at the University of the Punjab.[8][9][10]


As the Rector of National Textile University, he created four new faculties and ten new departments, growing the number of students by three times, faculty strength by four times and revenue of the university by five times.[11] He launched new programs in Textile Engineering including Ph.D. program in Textile Engineering, Textile Design, Fashion Design and Polymer Engineering. He also established National Textile Research Centre.[12] Furthermore he revived Plastic Technology Centre and Synthetic Fibre Development Centre, Karachi as the Constituted Units of the National Textile University. Due to his outstanding contribution, he was awarded with the gold medal by BOG of the National Textile University. [13]


In 2014, he became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila. In addition to increasing the number of students and faculty, he started many new programs including 12 new BS, MS and Ph.D. programs.[14] He established new centers including Technology Incubation Center, Staff Development Center, E-Rozgaar Center and Social Entrepreneurship Center. He established Departments of Computer Sciences, Electronics Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Basic Sciences in a state-of-art new Academic Block.[15][16] He was also instrumental in getting approved of the University Statues in 2017.[17][18][19] Owing to his significant contributions, he was decorated with the National Award of Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2015, in the Field of Education (Engineering & Technology). Akhtar has helped start new programs at Information Technology University.[20][21][22][23]


In 2018 Akhtar joined University of the Punjab as the Vice-Chancellor.[24][25][26] From 2018 to 2020, developments in the areas of good governance, academic and research outputs are notable at University of the Punjab.[27][28] Four new centers including Cancer Research Centre, and Social Entrepreneurship Centre have been established. Compared to 2018, PU has improved its ranking form 78% to 68% amongst the top ranked institutions of the world.[29][30] In 2019, world renowned publication nature ranked University of the Punjab as No. 1 institution in Natural Sciences in Pakistan.[31][32] In addition, 243 PhDs were produced for the first time in PU's history in one year. He has contributed immensely towards digitalization of PU including online admissions and online faculty recruitment reform. He has enabled drastic increase in research funding (from 75 to 380 million) to significantly reform research output at PU.

Ahktar served as Vice-Chairman (Punjab) of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for over 6 years.[11] Through his work for the accreditation of engineering programs, Pakistan became a signatory of the Washington Accord, earning international recognition for Pakistani Engineers.

Research

Akhtar has published/edited four books on "Quality Assurance in Higher Education" .[8] He has published research articles in high impact journals.[8] He served as the Chief Editor of the Journal of Quality & Innovation (2005-2017) and Member Advisory Board, Journal of Quality Assurance in Education (Emerald Journal).[33][34]

National & International Awards

Books Published / Edited

• "Quality Assurance in Higher Education, A Global Perspective" edited by Dr. Abdul Raouf and Dr. Niaz Ahmad published by Higher Education Commission, 2008.[35][36]

• "Quality in Higher Education: Challenges and Practices" Prof. Dr. Abdul Raouf, Prof. Dr. Riaz Hussain Qureshi and Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad published by Punjab University, 2009.[35][36]

• Higher Education Quality "Assurance and Assessment" edited by Dr. Abdul Raouf , Dr. Niaz Ahmad and Dr. Usman Awan published by Punjab University, 2011.[35][36]

• "Emissions from Circulating Fluidized Bed" by Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, ISBN: 978-3-659-48358-5 K.Shahzad, N.A. Akhtar[35]

References
  1. "University of the Punjab". pu.edu.pk. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  2. "NTU VC". DAWN.COM. 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  3. "Prof Niaz new PU VC". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  4. "VC Punjab University assigned Additional Charge of VC ITU – Information Technology University". itu.edu.pk. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  5. "ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALITY ENHANCEMENT CELLS AT PUBLIC SECTOR UNIVERSITIES (HEC)- Phase II" (PDF).
  6. "Brief on the Formation of PEC Committees". 2011.
  7. "University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila". web.uettaxila.edu.pk. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  8. "Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar CV" (PDF).
  9. "PU VC outlines his vision for research, quality education". Daily Times. 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  10. "Prof Niaz assumes PU VC charge today". DAWN.COM. 2018. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  11. "Pakistan Engineering Council" (PDF).
  12. From the Newspaper (2013-02-16). "Textile research centre". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  13. "Textile research centre". DAWN.COM. 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  14. "UET Taxila launches BSc auto engineering programme". The Nation. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  15. "Building and Works Department, UET Taxila". web.uettaxila.edu.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  16. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2016-11-24). "UET to introduce architecture engineering". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  17. "UET launches automotive engineering technology programme". DAWN.COM. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  18. "UET to offer four new degrees from next academic session". ilmkidunya.com. 2016. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  19. "UET to introduce architecture engineering". DAWN.COM. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  20. "VC Punjab University assigned Additional Charge of VC ITU - Information Technology University". itu.edu.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  21. Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2019-01-04). "PU VC to look after ITU as well". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  22. "PU VC given additional charge of ITU". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  23. "ITU Computer Engineering Department Approved By 9th Syndicate Meeting". The Academia. 2019-03-04. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  24. "Coveted slot: Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhtar takes charge as PU's new VC today". The Express Tribune. 2018-06-05. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  25. Reporter, A. (2018-06-04). "Prof Niaz assumes PU VC charge today". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  26. "Dr Niaz Named First Permanent Punjab University VC In Almost Two Years". The Academia. 2018-05-31. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  27. "PU VC outlines his vision for research, quality education". Daily Times. 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  28. "Prof Niaz new PU VC". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  29. "PU improves QS ranking by 11pc in 2 years - University of the Punjab - News Updates". www.pu.edu.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  30. "PU ranking improves by 11pc". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  31. "PU ranked first in natural sciences research". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  32. Khan, Ammara (2019-06-24). "PU stood first in natural sciences research by NPG". Technology Times. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  33. "Journal of Quality and Technology Management". journals.pu.edu.pk. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  34. "HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION" (PDF).
  35. www.amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Emissions-Circulating-Fluidized-Khurram-Shahzad/dp/3659483583. Retrieved 2021-01-26. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. "Niaz Ahmed Akhtar's research works | University of the Punjab, Lahore (PU) and other places". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
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