July 04, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1429

HYDERABAD, July 3: An archaeologist from University of Leicester UK, Dr Ruth Young, has proposed launching a joint MA and PhD degree programme by University of Sindh Jamshoro and University of Leicester UK with the provision that a candidate should study for one or half year at Leicester University and complete his or her remaining research work at Sindh University.

She was delivering a lecture on “archaeology and ancient history” at the university senate hall here on Wednesday.

The lecture was attended by a large number of teachers and students.

The visiting scholar to a question for providing facilities to students of the university for MA and PhD in Archaeology said that there were some Commonwealth scholarships and all information was on the website of the University of Leicester.

She said she wished to start a joint venture mixed degree programme for the students to facilitate them and added that it was quite possible.

She had visited some archaeological sites in Pakistan and conducted research. She said Pakistan was rich in archaeology and a great treasure among the four great civilisations.

She said she was working on research projects which include a research on defining and understanding the Gandhara civilisation.

About the Archaeology department of the University of Leicester, she said that the School of Archaeology and Ancient History was offering study of the past through material remains and under ancient history it offered the study of classical world through the writings of Greeks and Romans.

She said Leicester was one of the four universities in UK that were involved in South Asian archaeology.

She said the university on rating conducted by the government secured five-star during 1996 and 2001 and added that Oxford, Cambridge as well as other London universities were also rated five-star.

She said in archaeology it offered undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees and was working in close collaboration with the professional archaeology unit, Archaeological Services (ULAS).

Vice-Chancellor, Sindh University, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui speaking on the occasion appreciated the presentation by the scholar.

He said that the faculty members doing PhD in Leicester University had performed well in their research.

Pro-vice chancellor Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh speaking on the occasion introduced the visiting scholar and her work in research areas.

Adviser planning and development, Mohammad Hussain Shaikh speaking on the occasion said that 40 Sindh University faculty members were engaged in universities of UK for PhD research.

He said University of Sindh and University of Leicester have already signed a MoU for collaborative research and study programmes.

Dr Ruth also met the vice-chancellor to discuss collaborative research programmes in the University of Sindh and University of Leicester.

The vice-chancellor informed the guest that the university had recently established department of anthropology and archaeology.

He said that under the new department, the university is offering four-year BS degree programme.

The meeting was attended by pro-vice chancellor Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, adviser planning and development M.H. Shaikh, Registrar Mohammad Saleh Rajar and others.

The scholar also visited Institute of Sindhology and archaeological sites of Hyderabad including tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro.