National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences November 2014 Newsletter Vol: 6 Issue: 3 FAST-NU holds 7th international workshop on field & assistive robotics FAST-NU organized an international Rector FAST-NU Dr. Amir Muhammed workshop on field and assistive robotics delivered the key welcome note. Dr. Yasir from October 17 to 18, 2014 at Lahore Niaz Khan welcomed all faculty members campus. The main focus was to initiate new and participants. Prof. Dr. Karsten Berns and exciting areas of research in field and from University of Kaiserslautern, Germany, off-road robotics. This workshop was series presented his research work which was on of similar events regularly being held since robotics in agriculture. 2011. About 250 delegates participated in The workshop poster sessions were held the workshop. during tea breaks where all researchers A number of speakers invited from different pasted their posters related to their research famous universities from Pakistan and work. There were also robot demonstrations Germany addressed the workshop. Speakers arranged by Dr. Umar Suleman in which presented their research work related to different universities participated. Eight planning algorithm, biometric robotics, groups from FAST-NU Lahore, COMSATS FAST-NU Lahore and Prof. Dr. Karsten agricultural robotics, robotics in society University Lahore, LUMS and UET Lahore Berns this conference proved to be a great and other issues that are related to the gave demonstrations of robots. With success. City42 news channel covered the autonomous robots. the efforts of Dr. Yasir Niaz Khan from whole conference. INQAAHE recognizes FAST-NU for quality assurance and international ranking frameworks for College, and participation of QEC in universities. NBEAC accreditation process of a business INQAAHE selected a number of university’s school. initiatives including provision of training This achievement is credited to collective on quality and productivity in higher work of the management and QEC INQAAHE, a worldwide association of team from Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, over 200 organizations active in the theory education by QEC to Fiji Higher Education and practice of quality assurance in higher Commission and educational institutions Faisalabad, and Islamabad campuses. The education, has given prominent coverage to in the Republic of Fiji, presentation QEC team is committed to provide due FAST-NU’s efforts for quality assurance in its of a research about self-assessment in support for academic excellence in FAST- bulletin of September 2014. Getting ample international statistical sciences conference NU as per HEC requirements and best space in news bulletin of an international by ISOSS (Islamic Society of Statistical practices at national and international forum has a significant impact in national Sciences) and Dow International Medical levels. Karachi campus holds orientation ceremony the newcomers and acquaint them with Director FAST-NU Karachi Campus Dr. academic rules and regulations of the Zubair Ahmed Shaikh, in his address, told university. the students about all the possibilities they Dr. Aziz ur Rehman Saifee opened the can take advantage of by working hard at orientation session. After Dr. Saifee, Mr. FAST-NU and the new heights they can Waseem Uddin informed the students reach by being an obedient student. Mr. about the advantages of joining FAST-NU Masroor Ali from the Administration and all the great prospects it carries for the promised the new students full cooperation newly enrolled students. from the administration. Mr. Zafar Nasir Alumni members also shared their and Dr. Asim Ur Rehman also gave speeches FAST-NU Karachi campus recently experiences of studying at FAST-NU. They to the parents and their children attending organized an orientation session 2014 told the students how FAST-NU helped the orientation session. A flag hoisting for the incoming students to welcome them in making their career. ceremony was also held after the session. Peshawar campus organizes intra-university sports competition Peshawar campus of FAST-NU organized title. Batch 11 clinched the event finals an intra-university sports competition of cricket, tug-of-war, basketball, and from October 23 to 30. Matches of chess. Batch 14 outplayed its opponents variety of games such as cricket, futsal, in the final matches of futsal and volley- volleyball, chess, table tennis, tug-of-war, ball. Batch 12 clinched the badminton badminton and basketball were arranged single and double titles. during the competition. Overall, Batch 11 emerged victorious The sports were played with great zeal and Batch 14 as runner-up. The event and not only the students but the staff is going to help us to prepare a brilliant and faculty also enjoyed immensely by squad for external sporting events. watching as well as participating in the games. Students enjoyed the event and appreciated the hard work of organizers Organized by the FAST Sports Society, the event observed participation of ap- and support of campus administration proximately 260 students. Teams quali- in organization of the event including fying the intra-batch competitions com- President Fast Sports Society Sahibzada peted in the inter-batch competition for Farhan Amin and Faculty Adviser Mr. the “Sports Week Champions 2014/15” Muhammad Ehtesham. BS Computer Science assessment visit held Computer Science Department and Quality Science Department, FAST-NU Lahore an outstanding opportunity for all the Enhancement Cell at Lahore campus Campus, as per HEC guidelines for self- stakeholders to share the best practices successfully planned and executed the assessment. regarding learning and teaching, and to learn self-assessment visit for the BS Computer Director FAST-NU Lahore Dr. Zafar Iqbal, from each other in addition to identifying Science program on September 20. Director Islamabad campus Dr. Arshad the improvement opportunities. The assessment visit was conducted with Ali and Prof. Shafiq-ur-Rehman shared an intention to assess the BS (CS) program their views on quality education and against the defined criteria of Higher importance of continuous self-evaluation. Education Commission internal self- Dr. Zafar Iqbal emphasized on strategic assessment. Assessment team members Dr. planning for quality education. Dr. Arshad Tania Habib, Assistant Professor, UET, Ali highlighted the need for necessary External Member, and Dr. Umar Suleman, documentation of the policies and practices Assistant Professor, FAST-NU Lahore, while Prof. Shafiq-ur-Rehman highlighted Internal Member, were nominated by Prof. the actual implementation process. Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Head of Computer Overall assessment visit proved to be 2 Islamabad campus arranges IEEE Week 2014 IEEE Week 2014 was organized at FAST- Huawei are FAST-NU Islamabad graduates. The student organizing body comprising Mr. NU Islamabad campus from October 16 Apart from the national and international Muhammad Asim Sujra, Chair IEEE FAST- to 20 with a theme of “Vision beyond the technical events, there was an event NU Islamabad, and Ms. Alina Haider Zaidi, Horizon”. “Engineers Developing the Society”. The Chair WIE FAST-NU Islamabad, paid special 26 innovative technical events divided in host team managed to gather around 75 thanks to Director FAST-NU Islamabad Dr. 8 categories comprising Robo Pike, IT children from underprivileged areas. By Arshad Ali Shahid, Head of Department Dr. Boulevard, Engineering Technology, Energy the end of the competition, every kid had Waseem Ikram, IEEE Counselor Mr. Aamer Influx, Health Corridor, Agricultural and mastered in at least one technical task taught Hafeez, IEEE Islamabad Section Chair Dr. Environmental Freeway, and Education by the trainers. Aftab Maroof, IEEE Week Mentor Mr. Ahsan expedition were held during the week. IEEE Week managed to spread the idea of Khan, IEEE Week Supervisor Mr. Musab Moreover, two international events vision and innovation nationwide. A team Khalid and faculty members who served as including International Robotics Challenge of 25 enthusiastic individuals from Khushal mentors in various events. in collaboration with IIT, Mumbai, India Khan University of Karak visited FAST-NU The administration appreciated the efforts (where FAST-NU Islamabad has already been Islamabad campus to observe and learn of students and motivated them to continue declared as one of the many zonal partners from events at IEEE Week’14. this effort in the coming years. by IIT India), and IEEE Extreme 8.0 were also held. More than 1500 participants from 25 prestigious institutions participated to show their talent in technical fields. Top two positions of IRC Zonal round were secured by FAST-NU Islamabad teams. These teams will represent Pakistan in the final round of IRC which will be held in Mumbai in January 2015. Mr. Ahmed Bilal Masud, Deputy CEO of Huawei Technologies, graced the opening ceremony of IEEE Week 2014 with his presence. He informed the audience that three out of four top newly hired engineers of Medal Awarding Ceremony ‘A morning with Engineering, Computer Science and Talat Hussain’ Management studies. Twenty toppers of their respective batches were awarded gold medals, second position holders got seventeen silver medals and fourteen bronze medals were awarded to the third position holders. Director Peshawar campus Dr. Tariq Rahim distributed these medals among the students. On the occasion he said that the achievement that we recognize To honor the students who demonstrated today is possible because FAST-NU is an