ISLAMABAD, July 22: Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to establish a campus of University of Engineering and Technology Lahore at Kala Shah Kaku. Approved by the Planning Commission in a meeting of the central development working party, the project will be completed in five years. Four degree-awarding departments will be established at this campus, which include Electrical, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mechanical, Mechatronic & Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical, Polymer & Composite Materials Engineering and Engineering of management and administration.

The enrolment of students will be increased to 3,300 students. As many as 220 teachers will be employed at the university. The plan also includes building of hostel for visiting faculty and 30 engineers will be sent abroad for PhD studies.

The decision has been taken in the light of decisions of chancellors’ committee meetings held under the chairmanship of the President. In the light of these decisions, the Higher Education Commission asked the universities to submit plans to increase present enrolment over the next 3-4 years, ensure that the increase in enrolment should be accompanied by continuous improvement in quality of education and research. It was also decided that existing departmental infrastructure and support facilities should be expanded and faculty be developed.

The UET‘s present campus at Lahore with limited space for expansion will cater for around 50 per cent increase in enrolment with focus on postgraduate programmes. Remaining 50 per cent enrolment will be carried out in the new campus at Kala Shah Kaku for which 500 acres of land has been reserved.

Establishment of this campus will be carried out in three phases. The first phase includes site development, executive of civil works for three academic departments, construction of administration block and library, induction of lab equipment and faculty development.

After the completion of the project, the enrolment of undergraduate students will increase by 3,300 (50 per cent increase), quality of faculty will improve with the foreign training of 30 PhDs abroad, linkages between UET and the industrial zone Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala will be strengthened, industry funded research will be promoted and the population of the Punjab, particularly of Lahore and Sheikhupura, will be benefited.