LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) Syndicate on Wednesday approved new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and budget for the fiscal year 2023-24.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi chaired the 69th meeting of the Syndicate held at the old campus on Wednesday.

The new undergraduate programmes include: Linguistics, Computer Systems Engineering, and Information Security Engineering Technology. Postgraduate programmes in Accounting and Finance, as well as Sociology, have been sanctioned.

The GCU will also offer courses in Digital Marketing, Content Writing, and Web Development to equip students with practical skills essential for the contemporary workforce.

The Syndicate also approved the establishment of the Institute of English Language and Literature. The institute will house the Department of English and the Department of Linguistics and Language Studies.

The Syndicate also approved the establishment of the “Baba Guru Nanak Chair” under the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences and Oriental Learning to honor the rich cultural heritage of the region. This chair is poised to contribute to the study and preservation of Punjabi culture.

The ‘Azerbaijan Urdu Research Centre’ affiliated with the Department of Urdu, has been introduced to encourage research in Urdu language and culture, fostering academic ties not only within Pakistan but also with Central Asian nations.

The Syndicate sanctioned the “Javed Ahmad Sheikh Centre of Excellence in Politics and Governance”.

Prof Zaidi said the new postgraduate policy was introduced for MPhil and PhD programmes. These programs will be administered by the recently established Directorate of Academics for advanced research.

He said postgraduate students would be encouraged to engage in undergraduate teaching ensures a holistic academic experience.

The Syndicate also approved a revamped format for the annual performance evaluation report underscoring the importance of faculty members’ forward planning and contributions to various academic activities and adhering to international standards of academic excellence.

The GCU has established the ‘Salam Chair Endowment Fund’ with Rs62 million to enhance teaching and research in the field of Physics.

The introduction of the ‘Centre of Excellence China Studies Endowment Fund’ with an allocation of Rs32 million underscores GCU’s commitment to deepening the understanding of Chinese language, culture, history, politics, and economics, aligning with international efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding.

The ‘GCU’s Self-Saving Endowment Fund’ has been initiated with an impressive initial amount of Rs1.552 billion, signifying a significant step towards financial autonomy in managing its expenditures, a practice commonly observed in internationally renowned institutions.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023