A training workshop on Quality Assurance and Self-Assessment of programs was held at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR)  on26 February 2015. A large number of academia, researchers and Programs Team Members attended the workshop. The workshop was organized by the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) of PMAS-AAUR.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, was the chief guest and inaugurated the workshop. In his inaugural speech, he highlighted the importance of quality in all fields, especially in higher education. Referring to his participation in the Vice Chancellors Forum of the Islamic countries held in Islamabad earlier this week, he said the Vice Chancellors of the universities of the Islamic world were also concerned about the quality in the educational institutions of their countries. He said quality is priority all over the world and it’s everyone’s responsibility. He said, “Quality is never an accident - it always the result of sincere effort, high intention and intelligent direction and the Arid Varsity is trying to achieve it at all costs, as it’s at the top of agenda and integral part of my vision as the Vice Chancellor. He declared that to achieve quality in higher education, the Arid University has formulated a system for fair selection of new faculty strictly on merit. Addressing to the participants he said,“It’s not enough to do your best, you must know what to do and then do your best. He said Arid University has >8000 students and we must inculcate quality knowledge as they will soon join various organizations all around the world. Therefore we need to develop a system to change the mindsets of the faculty as well as the students. We must focus on the practical aspect of the programs. The University and Government of Pakistan are spending huge money on the research projects, labs establishment and the applied research. Now it is our duty to divert our energies to the applied side rather than basic research. The Vice Chancellor admired the role of QEC that it has been playing to enhance the quality of education and research at the Arid Varsity. He announced that special awards and incentives will be given to the best program team members on the basis of performance in the Self-assessment program.

Earlier, Professor Dr. Riaz Ahmad, Director QEC in his welcome address thanked the Vice Chancellor for his keen interest on the quality front. He also appreciated the Program Team members and the faculty for their contribution in this regard. He said the QEC was established in 2007 as Higher Education Commission Islamabad initiative and it has played a vital role boosting the quality of education and research. The Arid Varsity has been ranked among the top 200 universities of the world in the disciplines of Agriculture and Forestry.

Later sessions on Self-assessment of programs and quality assurance were conducted in which Professor Riaz Ahmad, Director QEC and Shahbaz Ahmad Khan, Deputy Director (QEC) made the presentations. These followed interactive session with the participants