ISLAMABAD, July 8: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to link University of Sargodha with the rest of public- sector universities through computer networking, said an official statement.

With the networking of the university, its administrative as well as academic departments would benefit through the latest information technology (IT) facilities. The scheme would enable the university to develop centralized databases for research students and employees of the university.

Students would be able to get themselves registered online and switch over to computerized electronic environment which would include web-based solutions and e-mail communication.

The major objectives of the project are to develop internet structure and computerize the university to facilitate all its students and faculty which at present stands at 6,000 users and this number will be increased in the near future.

It would also provide internet access to faculty members, students and management of the university and save students and faculty members time in undertaking various assignments and projects and also open up avenues of collaborative research within and outside the university.

The scheme also aims at providing professional and technical staff to maintain and update the system of networking and computerization. The scheme is part of the HEC programme for promotion of IT culture in the universities.

Almost all public-sector universities and degree-awarding institutions have been provided internet and computerization facilities. The project would become part of the comprehensive programme of networking and computerization of higher-learning institutions in general and in the country in particular. This would also enhance the R&D culture in the educational institutions and linkage all over the world through internet.