NUSTNewsMonthly National University of www.nust.edu.pk Sciences & Technology JANUARY VOLUME V 2014 ISSUE I Outstanding Research Award Nadia Zaheer - NBS Page 9 MCS, SEECS Convocations Page 6-7 IN THE SPOTLIGHT Academic Council approves 9 new programmes.......Page 8 New SMME building inaugurated......Page 11 Glasgow Professor at NUST.......Page 16 01 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Page 3-13 News 02 CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS/LECTURES Page 14-20 03 VISITS Page 21-22 04 CO-CURRICULARS Page 23-26 05 COMMUNITY SERVICE Page 27-29 NUST In the midst of fast-evolving information coming editions, inclusion of some new age, print medium now requires more sections viz. news reviews and interviews precise adaptations, than ever in the of faculty, researchers and incubatees is past, to quench the news thirst of the also planned, so as to enable our readers modern readers. A good publication is the have a deep insight into what makes one that keeps the interest of its readers NUST one of the leading universities of alive. Considering the convenience of the world. readers who are generally pressed for Change is a continuous process and time, we have introduced a few changes we will keep making modifications and Note from in NUSTNews with the advent of the innovations following your invaluable the Editor New Year. Though the newsletter, having feedback. matured into a monthly publication after We owe special thanks to the Rector starting as a quarterly back in 2010, has NUST for his kind patronage and gradually incorporated some alterations encouragement; Director Student Affairs in content and design, this latest edition for his ready advice and guidance; and presents a look that is more visually particularly our Creative Unit in making pleasing with the written content NUSTNews a quality publication. trimmed to size. With the increase of space for Our pledge is to keep you photographs, we intend adding more informed. pages to give rather exclusive coverage to Nustians’ diverse pursuits. In the Faheem Khaliqdad NUSTNews is a monthly publication, produced by Student Affairs Directorate, covering various events across the entire University. It will be appreciated if the focal persons send reports right after the events so as to give them timely Download coverage. a copy of NUSTNews from www.nust.edu.pk/downloads EDITORIAL Editor Graphics & Layout Photography TEAM Faheem Khaliqdad Kareem Muhammad Ghulam Rasul Student Reporters: Taimoor Ahmad, Zainab Kainat, Muhammad Yahya 01 / Event Highlights NIMUN 2014 concludes on a high note This year’s NUST International Model United Nations comed the local and the foreign guests. He said that (NIMUN ‘14) concluded on a high note with the del- the inclusion of international chairs and delegates had egates and chairs expressing great satisfaction over rendered new life and energy to NIMUN which, he as- the outcome of the debates. The committees passed sured, would continue to expand and grow. Ahmed Sal- draft resolutions and the delegates attended a Masters man, Secretary General NIMUN ’14, talked about how Round – where the highly experienced chairs debated the conference had been nurtured by the MUN family and deliberated upon various crises the world encoun- to this point of beginning. tered. This gave the delegates an opportunity to under- The NIMUN stand and learn from the best in the debating field, and team set up a value the debate from a different perspective. global village, The four-day grand event, Jan 22-25, included inter- where delegates national chairs from Germany, who arrived at NUST and participat- to moderate and lead the committee sessions. Also ing teams were attending were the forty international delegates from given the oppor- Kenya, Vietnam, Nepal, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, tunity to exhibit Egypt, Lebanon, Afghanistan and over 500 delegates their assigned from different colleges and universities of Pakistan. country’s cul- The opening ceremony, held at Centre for International ture in colour- Peace and Stability, was graced by Riaz Khokhar, an ful, artistic and eminent Pakistani diplomat, as the chief guest. He ac- vibrant ways. knowledged and lauded the idea of NIMUN ’14. The delegates Rector NUST Engineer Mohammad Asghar also praised were extremely the efforts of the organizing committees as well as wel- enthusiastic and 4 NUSTEVENT HIGHLIGHTS NewsNUSTNews / January Issue, 2014 brought forward a diverse flavour to Development Goals, penetration to Pakistan’s cultural heritage. the entire extravaganza. of lethal diseases across the globe, During the entire event, the ration- Naela Chauhan, Additional Secre- and significance of the platforms ally exuberant debaters kept the tary Ministry of Foreign affairs also like NIMUN in understanding the audience spellbound with their attended the event. She highlight- youth. After a strenuous day of de- thought-provoking views. While ed the global power issue that the liberating, competing and debat- addressing the Counter Terrorism entire world faced. She also talked ing –NIMUN ’14 had another social Committee, Dr. Shahid Masood, a about the urgency for disarma- event in the evening - LOK JOMELO, renowned journalist said that the ment, multiple facets of Millennium a grand carnival which paid homage monster of terrorism had sent a wave of insecurity rippling across the length and breadth of the world. His message was to enhance collaborative efforts in uprooting the widespread plague. Closing ceremony was held later that day in CIPS which was attend- ed by UN Resident Co coordinator, Timo Pakkala. He appreciated the efforts of the students and termed the initiative an excellent effort to simulate the real United Nations. The best delegate awards were given to the most outstanding del- 5 NUSTEVENT HIGHLIGHTS NewsNUSTNews / January Issue, 2014 egates by their respective Commit- tee Chairs. The event ended with the mystical and spiritual Sufi night, featuring performances by Sae’en Zahoor and Arieb Azhar. 6 NUSTEVENT HIGHLIGHTS NewsNUSTNews / January Issue, 2014 SEECS Convocation Graduates earn reward for strenuous work Around 700 graduating students of President’s Gold Medal, Chancellor’s was awarded with best teacher award SEECS received degrees in the disci- Silver Medal and Rector’s Gold Medal, for their outstanding performance and plines of Electrical Engineering, Infor- respectively. Muhammad Junaid Fa- contribution in research and teaching, mation and Communication Systems rooq, Jawad Ahmed and Umair Aftab respectively, in year 2013. Engineering and Information Technol- from BEE-1 got President’s Gold Medal, In his address, Rector NUST, Engineer ogy at the 6th Undergraduate Convo- Chancellor’s Silver Medal and Rector’s Muhammad Asghar congratulated stu- cation of the School. Held at the main Gold Medal respectively. dents and their proud parents. He also campus of the University on January Muhammad Nawaz, Asim Mushtaq and complimented Principal SEECS Dr. Ar- 24, the ceremony was attended by the Syeda Zahra Hassan from BIT-11 won shad Ali and his dedicated team of fac- parents of the graduating students, President’s Gold Medal, Chancellor’s ulty and staff officers on making SEECS faculty, and other distinguished guests. Silver Medal and Rector’s Gold Medal a center of excellence for quality edu- Dr. Akram Sheikh, Professor Emeritus, respectively. Intikhab Hussain, Junaid- cation and research. Co-Chair NUST Corporate Advisory Zulfiqar and Maryam Rehman from Earlier, Dr. Arshad Ali presented a brief Council, and Osman Khan, Country BICSE-7 received the President’s Gold report on the performance of SEECS. Manager, EMC Information Systems Medal, Chancellor’s Silver Medal and In their keynote addresses, the chief Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. Karachi graced the Rector’s Gold Medal respectively. From guests, Engr. Dr. M. Akram Sheikh, Pro- morning and afternoon sessions re- BEE-5, Saleha Asad and Waleed Aslam fessor Emeritus, Co-Chair NUST Corpo- spectively as chief guests. claimed President’s Gold Medal and rate Advisory Council, and Mr. Osman Tehniat Fatima, Haris Aftab and Mu- Chancellor’s Silver Medal respectively Khan, Country Manager, EMC Informa- hammad Wajeeh from BIT-10 won and Burhan Ahmad Mudassar claimed tion Systems Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. Karachi, President’s Gold Medal, Chancel- both Rector’s Gold Medal and Chancel- complimented NUST on its progressive lor’s Silver Medal and Rector’s Gold lor’s Silver Medal. vision and hard work to promote re- Medal respectively. From BICSE-6, At this auspicious occasion, Dr Awais search and innovation in the country. Erum Mushtaq, Sikandar Ali Khan and Shibli was awarded with the best re- Munawar Masood Khan claimed the searcher award and Dr Osman Hassan 7 NUSTEVENT HIGHLIGHTS NewsNUSTNews / January Issue, 2014 Telecom, software engineers conferred degrees at MCS convocation The 22nd Undergraduate Convocation lier, Commandant MCS, Brigadier Ali Khan and Gentleman Cadet Muham- of Military College of Signals (MCS) Farhan, presented the college report, mad ul Husnain Nawaz. Rector’s Gold was held on 25th Jan 2014. Rector NUST highlighting the progress in academic Medals were awarded to Capt Khalid Engineer Muhammad Asghar was the and research excellence the College Rabbani and Capt Abdul Rehman Raza chief guest at the occasion. In his ad- had achieved over the last six decades. Khan for their outstanding performanc- dress, the Rector stressed upon the A total of 195 students of Telecom and es in their respective degree projects. need for producing more trained sci- Software Engineering programs were Chancellor’s Silver Medals were re- entists and technologists. He empha- conferred degrees of Bachelor of Engi- ceived by NUST Cadet Muhammad Ali sized that the primary challenge was neering. President’s Gold Medals were and NUST Cadet Zainab Abbas. Major to transform our tertiary educational awarded to NUST Cadet Muhammad General Waqar Ahmed, Signal Officer in institutions into centres of excellence, Ahsen and NUST Cadet Ruba Aslam. Chief, faculty members, educationists with high standards of teaching and Chief of Army Staff’s Gold Medals were and a large number of students were a culture of sustained learning.