(June 2018 - June 2020) Karakoram International University Vice Chancellor’s Report GILGIT - BALTISTAN www.kiu.edu.pk VISION The Karakoram International University endeavors to become a leading institution of higher learning, meaningfully contributing to sustainable development, promoting knowledge economies and pluralistic societies in the mountainous regions of Pakistan and geographically similar landscapes elsewhere. MISSION Ÿ Offering Quality academic programs in line with the local, regional & global demands Ÿ Attracting & nurturing high-quality minds to address the contemporary challenges through dissemination & generation of high-quality knowledge & cutting edge research Ÿ Promoting & conserving the indigenous values and creating social & ethical responsibility Ÿ Trying to become nancially sustainable; through commercialization of Research and Development. VALUES The University is committed to uphold and promote: Ÿ Excellence and quality in all its functions including scholarship in its broader aspects, careful management, and ethical considerations. Ÿ Acceptance of diversity and pluralism, with particular regard to gender, race, color, beliefs, culture, and religion. Ÿ Holistic development of its students, faculty, and staff as managers and critical users of knowledge and human resource. Ÿ A culture of inquiry, creativity, critical thinking, and the free exchange of thoughts. Ÿ The relevance of its functions to the goals of development of individuals, society, and environment at the regional and global levels. Ÿ Provision of efcient and effective relevant services to all internal and external stakeholder. STRATEGY Ÿ Recruit and retain highly qualied faculty who are committed to deliver the expectations outlined in the vision and mission. Ÿ Ensure merit and quality in the admission of students. Ÿ Develop and deliver knowledge content that is relevant to the local context; that capitalizes on local comparative advantages. Ÿ Promote interactive and student centered learning. Ÿ Develop a culturally symbolic (architecture) and inviting campus environment. Ÿ Forge partnerships and networks with global knowledge networks for exchange of relevant knowledge, faculty, and student. Ÿ Undertake continued faculty and staff development to maintain excellence in quality. Ÿ Promote multi-disciplinary integration of educational programs in order to enhance the versatility and entrepreneurship of its studies. Ÿ Facilitate "access" through "distributive" learning and "decentralization" (KIU is a multi- campus University). Ÿ Seek multiple avenues for resource development. Foreword his report encompasses series of developments that took place during last two years period (starting from June 2018 to July 2020). T In this period, KIU has witnessed a number of remarkable developments on a number of fronts under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor Prof.Dr.Atta Ullah Shah. The Visible developments of this period include physical infrastructural development, development and deployment of a robust and forward looking Learning Management System, stream-lining and devising important policy guidelines and quality assurance mechanisms, establishment of weekend graduate school for higher learning and many more. These developments have surely taken KIU to a next level. Being a document of a very high importance, it was not less than a challenge to gather, organize and compile this document into a high profile report. I am indebted to the Vice Chancellor for his continuous guidance and placing trust in me for this important task. I am grateful to my colleagues who supported me in completion of this task and also thankful to graphic designer for his artistic input with graphic tools. I hope this report serves it ultimate purpose. Ghulam Udin Director Planning and Development Karakoram International University (1st July 2020) Summary of Achievements during 2018-20 5 Chapter 1: Quality Assurance Mechanism at KIU 8 Chapter 2: Ofce of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) 16 Chapter 3: Human Resource Development 27 Chapter 4: Academic Planning of the University 34 Chapter 5: Center for Research on CPEC (CRC) 39 Chapter 6: Financial Sustainability - KIU 45 Chapter 7: KIU Graduate School Program (KGSP) 53 Chapter 8: KIU Research Journals and Their Present Status 54 Chapter 9: Physical Development 56 Chapter 10: Detail List of Ph.D and M.Phil. Degree awarded during June 2018- May 2020 57 Sub Campuses of Karakoram International University 62 KIU Hunza Campus 63 CONTENTS KIU Diamer Campus 69 KIU Ghizer Campus 74 Vice Chancellor’s 2 Years Report (June 2018 - June 2020) Summary of Achievements during 2018-20 Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) are bestowed with three major roles in a society. Firstly, transfer and dissemination of quality knowledge with in the same generation and from one generation to the other. Secondly, undertaking cutting edge research on the problems faced by the society, which can be durable and sustainable. Finally, providing direction and vision to the society as think tank. The establishment of the Karakoram International University is considered a historical decision after the construction of Karakoram High (KKH). At one hand, KKH has connected the people of Gilgit Baltistan with the rest of the country physically where as KIU has ensured their connectivity intellectually with the country and entire world. The Vision of KIU has been based on developing sustainable, pluralistic and inclusive mountain societies, though higher education and research. The North of Pakistan has been endowed with natural assets such as world-renowned glaciers, rivers, pastures, grassland, forests, minerals, wildlife, biodiversity in fauna and ora, mountain agriculture, horticulture etc. At the same time, the region is faced with the changes of Climate Changes and its impacts, Natural Disasters, degradation of forests and natural environment, depleting water resource, land Slides and earthquakes. Hence the major focus of our endeavors at KIU has been laid on providing indigenous solution for these problems. In order to achieve, the mission and goals of the KIU, the Vice Chancellor, has been focused on seven priorities for his tenure. These include, Quality Assurance, Enhanced Research Productivity, Engineering and Technology Education in the region, strengthening of physical and technology infrastructure, Establishment of market driven new departments and initiating such programs, improved academic and nancial planning, enhancing national and international collaboration and improved students and Employees Services. The tenure of the Vice Chancellor started with the unexpected shock due to shifting the students of Matric and Intermediate from KIU External Exams to the Federal Board at the decision of the Education department. This was followed by the discontinuation of the Fee Reimbursement Program of PM in 2019 about 800 students enrolled in Spring 2019 are not ready to pay their fee. KIU team, under the leadership of Vice Chancellor, managed to strengthen the students body from 3200 to 6500 and so was the fee revenue which was expected to be doubled in 2 years from 130 Million to 255 Million. The latest deadlock from March 2020 till date, however gave a further difcult time to the KIU as the revenue of about 180 Million has been stuck- up due to discontinuity in the academics. In wake of all these challenges, the Vice Chancellor with KIU team has been effectively pursuing his priorities. The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) was strengthened and more rigorous quality assurance processes were deployed at all levels. The programs offered under various departments have been approved/permitted by the relevant accreditation councils, such as Pakistan Engineering Council, National Computer Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council (NAEAC), National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE) etc. The external evaluation of various graduate (MS/PhD) programs and University Performance Appraisal has been conducted through peer review by the HEC experts team and have shown their satisfaction over the compliance of KIU to the major quality parameters. 5 Vice Chancellor’s 2 Years Report (June 2018 - June 2020) To develop research culture at KIU, Ofce of the Organizational Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) has been established with a mandate to strengthen, the industry Government and academia relations and attracting research projects from public and private sectors. The KIU Graduate School has been established where about 16 MS/PhD programs are offered and currently more than 400 students hare enrolled in the program. The research of graduate students is focused on the issue and Challenges of the region. The rst ever Engineering program in Mining Engineering has been started, after approval of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). At the same time, BS Civil Engineering Technology program has also been initiated to provide the requisite trained human resource in the relevant elds. The technological infrastructure has been strengthened through automation process. The Online and Blended Education System has been developed indigenously by the Computer and IT teams of KIU and has been successfully launched during the lock down period of COVID-19. The Learning Management System has been adopted as an integral part of the teaching and learning at KIU. The online and Blended Classrooms have been arranged for the students during this period. The physical infrastructure has also been strengthened.