RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) topped the list of Pakistani medical universities that made it to the Times Higher Education (THE) impact rankings for the year 2021. As many as 35 other local universities are in the list.

More than 1,500 universities are included in the list from across 93 countries, making it the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

RMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer told Dawn that RMU was proud to be ranked at 401 out of 800 with other international universities that are making a significant impact in their communities for sustainable development.

“This overall impact ranking puts RMU in the seventh place among the top 10 Pakistani universities and first among medical universities out of a total of 36 Pakistani universities ranked by Times Higher Education in 2021,” he said.

RMU was originally established in 1974 as Rawalpindi Medical College. When it was opened, it was affiliated with the University of Punjab. In 2003, it partnered with the University of Health Sciences Lahore. In 2017, the Punjab government granted the college an independent university status and it became Rawalpindi Medical University.

The university has established partnerships with three teaching hospitals from the public sector: Holy Family Hospital, DHQ Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital. These affiliations were designed to enrich undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training. Outside the classroom, students are encouraged to get involved in various student clubs and societies that the university offers. These include Rawalians Sports Society, Rawalians Literary Society and Rawalians Student Research Society.

In 2019, the university opened the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation as the focal point of all research related activities.

The university’s research focuses primarily on medical developments and improvements in the health sector. Students also contribute to the university’s research projects by publishing their work in the student journal.

The vice chancellor said there were 2,038 full-time enrolled students whereas ratio of female to male students was 69:31 with three per cent international students.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2021