PESHAWAR: The University of Engineering and Technology has introduced the new mechanism of outcome-based education in line with the Washington Accord to enable its graduates to get jobs in the international market, including developed countries, without taking tests.

UET pro-vice chancellor Prof Qaisar Ali told reporters on Wednesday that under the new system of education, which was based on the needs of the society, the university would get constant input from the employers of graduates about their performances and usefulness.

He said the university joined the Washington Accord recently.

Accompanied by provost of the university Prof Sahar Noor, the VC said the UET was the only educational institution in the province to complete online semester during the Covid-19 pandemic, which not only facilitated students academically but also saved them from coronavirus.

He said the online admission of new students would be completed soon. Prof Qaisar said the university went ahead with the entrance test to pick intelligent students as enrollment of students on the basis of intermediate marks could have deprived the poor and intelligent students of admission.

Initiative promises graduates world jobs without tests

He said the university had started Enterprise Resource Planning, a computer app, to pave way a paperless work on campus, while the establishment of the student facilitation centres was another milestone to help students get services under one roof.

The VC said the Earthquake Engineering Centre, which was established by the UET and was the fourth largest such facility in the world, was recently awarded a project to design and develop shock resistance schools in Nepal.

He said the university was establishing the Financial Management Cell to seek ways and means to resolve monetary issues and ensure the smooth functioning of affairs.

“At present, our budget is Rs2 billion and of it, Rs850 million came from the Higher Education Commission and the rest was generated by us from self-finance schemes,” he said.

The VC said the UET had 200 PhDs whose services could be utilised by the government.He said the university had planned to launch health insurance scheme for the employees to cut down medical bills.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2020