ISLAMABAD, July 31: An engineering university to be set up in Karachi with French collaboration is likely to be operational by October 2007. The university would be set up on the pattern of the University of Technology, Troyes, (UTT) in France.

The key faculty and administrative positions will be held by French professors.

Dr Christian Lerminiaux, President UTT, told mediapersons at the residence of French ambassador that for an initial period of 10 years French faculty would be hired on a two years’ renewable contract.

He said training would be imparted to Pakistani teachers who would be holding key positions after ten years.

The vice-chancellor, deans and 23 full-time professors will be French. Around 475 Pakistani faculty members would be imparted extensive foreign training.

The university will have the disciplines of mechanical, mechatronics and industry engineering, computer sciences and IT; electrical, chemical, materials and marine engineering and social and basic sciences.

The establishment of the institution is part of Higher Education Commission’s programme to set up eight world class engineering universities in collaboration with developed countries.

Dr Lerminiaux said PC-1 of the project would be ready by September 30 this year while first batch of students will be enrolled by October next year. He said the target was to take the number of students in BSc, MSc and PhD levels to 5,000 in ten year.

The students will be given opportunity to complete their six months internship in France. English will be the medium of instruction but French will also be part of syllabus, he added.

He said 147 students were already pursuing their doctoral studies in France, mostly in the disciplines of engineering. It was agreed that these scholars on their return would form an excellent pool for future appointments as faculty members of the university.

Apart from those students, the new engineering university will send its faculty for PhD studies to develop a future human resource for the university through their faculty development programme.