KARACHI, June 20: The senate of the NED University of Engineering and Technology, on Thursday, approved a budget of Rs214.025 million, with a deficit of Rs13.659 million for the year 2002-2003.
The meeting was presided at by Sindh education minister, Prof Anita Ghulam Ali, also the pro-chancellor of the university. Originally, Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, was to preside at the meeting, but he could not attend due to other engagements.
The senate also approved the development budget of the university, estimated at Rs40 million, for the financial year 2002-2003. Under the five-year plan supposed to conclude in 1998, the university, so far, could get the PSDP allocations of Rs40 million released, while another grant of Rs40 million is expected during the year 2002-2003, said a university document.
The development budget proposals for the new year envisaged external development (Rs3.507m), construction of laboratories, faculty offices and residence at staff colony (Rs21.329m), laboratory equipment (Rs9.989m), faculty local training (Rs0.181m), supplementing the building cost in view of price escalation and other activities as well.
Under the development budget, allocations for books and journals, sports equipments and library equipments have not been proposed for the year. The university has been able to utilize a total amount of Rs38.925 million out of the Rs40 million released so far under the 8th five-year plan, stated in the varsity budget documents.
The university expected to earn an additional amount of Rs7.725 million as a result of increase in examination and tuition fees of BE and ME. As compared to last year’s figure of Rs55.435 million, the university, during the year 2002-2003, expects a total of Rs63.160 million (31 per cent of the total varsity income), from internal sources.
Another amount of Rs88.841 million as grant-in-aid and Rs25 million as supplementary grant for increase in salaries from the University Grants Commission is expected to be received. The university senate also approved budget estimates for utilization of the self-financing fund amounting to Rs21 million.
The senate considered the revised recurring budgets estimates for the year 2001-2002 and approved it. The revised receipts were estimated at Rs181.038 million, against original estimates of Rs173.960 million.
In her address, Prof Anita Ghulam Ali said that the university should not fail taking advantage of the significant funding it received during the last two years in the shape of grants and endowments. She also called upon the university to further focus on faculty-development programmes.
She said that the financial programmes of the university, particularly their complete changeover to the Double Entry System of Accounting, were praiseworthy. She urged the alumni of the university to come forward to donate funds to their Alma Mater.
While suggesting that the university should get involved in some sort of community works, particularly in the rural areas and that, too, for the female population, she informed the meeting that she would institute gold medals for students excelling in community-related works.
The vice-chancellor of the NED, Abul Kalam, reported to the senate that during the period 1996-97 to 2001-2002, undergraduate admissions had increased from 680 to 937. He informed that two Masters of Engineering in Research had also acquired their degrees, which raised the number of such graduates to four, while in the doctoral programme meant for faculty only, there were only three scholars at present.
He said that the Ministry of Science and Technology had granted Rs175 million plus Rs17 million for first-year expenditure as endowment for research, which should be managed by the Board of Trustees. Another significant endowment of Rs98.5 million has been received from the Muscat and Oman for the establishment of the IT chair, which would further boost research activities at the university, he added.
He said that the alumni association of the university had announced its intention to set up a Computer Technicians Training Institute at the city campus of the university, but progress by the association was regrettably quite slow. “Our alumni could do much more for the university,” he added.
During the proceedings, members urged the chair to ensure opening up the consultation works to outsiders also, as it could bring new cost-effective ideas for different projects undertaken at the university. The chair was also urged to expand the scope for researchers, by allowing them to carry out works under supervisors and guides from outside the university as well.
To a suggestion, the VC clarified that the university’s first responsibility was to cater to the needs of undergraduates and that was why it had not been spending much on research or PhD programmes. He also mentioned the shortage of research laboratories for postgraduate programmes.
To other suggestions, he stated that the Internet centre of the university, which was being supported by self finance funds, would be brought under the regular budget of the university as it had become self-sufficient. The VC told the members that the university was spending an average of Rs57,000 a year.
The senate unanimously approved enhancement in the rate of honorarium from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 per month to Professor Emeritus. It also approved replacement/updating of the statutes regarding scheme and courses of studies, admission to the Bachelor and Master degrees programmes.
It was agreed at the varsity’s highest forum that investment of pension contribution, provident fund and benevolent fund could also be invested in NGOs. The meeting was also informed that the university expected to get ISO 9000 certification soon.
