Varsities urged to find indigenous resources

LAHORE:UNIVERSITIES can play a vital role by conducting research and focusing on indigenous resources towards overcoming the challenges being faced by people in Pakistan.

This was resolved by a focused group meeting on Knowledge Exchange strategic development in Pakistan and role of academia held at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Ravi Campus, Patoki on Wednesday, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.

The meeting was conducted by British Council with the collaboration of UVAS Fisheries Department. A delegation led by Regional Higher Education Project Manager central and south Asia Ben Isaac comprised British Council consultant Jo Chaffer, British Council Manager Higher Education partnerships Sarah Pervez, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority Assistant Manager policy and planning Hameed Ullah Khan, footwear expert Javed Akhtar Mir, Project coordinator Inspire Prof Dr Muhammad Sharif Mughal and UVAS registrar Prof Dr Kamran Ashraf.PS

Earlier, UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz briefed the delegation about the chronicle of veterinary school that had now become the country s prestigious university. He said this institution was imparting quality veterinary education in Lahore for the last 129 years. He said UVAS was playing its effective role in the leather, poultry, meat and dairy technology. He said that the university had won research grants worth Rs 571.794 million through competition. He said the university s development budget was Rs 430 million, adding that within a short span indigenous resources were being increased from 10 to 25 per cent.

Prof Nawaz said the university had developed research collaboration and signed 21 MoUs with many international institutions to upgrade the standard of education. He said the varsity was making efforts to provide quality education.

The delegation appreciated the UVAS poverty alleviation model and discussed challenges.

Vice Chancellor Prof Nawaz said the vibrant role of livestock sector was contributing approximately 55.1 per cent of the agriculture value-added and 11.4 per cent to national GDP. Despite a plethora of challenges, he said, the livestock industry was surprisingly growing by 4.1 per cent and cattle population had grown up to 67 million in 2010-11.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Nawaz said that it was the only university in Pakistan which was conducting online examination to maintain the process of transparency.

The participants urged the academia to produce innovative mindset which would develop techniques for making money to improve the national economy. But they categorically agreed that the human resource should be equipped with basic product knowledge and know-how about the management skills. They also visited the livestock farms, dogs training and breeding centre and milk processing unit.The news.