Orientation Session for the first Batch of MS/PhD at USPCAS-W

Vice Chancellor Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET) Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili said that water is one of the most important commodities of the daily life consumption whereas the water research is the need of the day to overcome the water challenges faced by Pakistan, this he said while speaking in the welcome and orientation ceremony held at Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) Conference Hall. Dr. Uqaili said that none of us can deny the importance of water in our daily life but the judicious and purposeful use of water is need of the hour.

The Vice Chancellor said keeping the water needs and tackling the water crisis of Pakistan, U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) has been recently launched in MUET with the assistance of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) where the University of Utah of United States will technically help to flourish the center. He said that universities never sleep and USPCAS-W MUET will emerged as one of the regional world class education and applied water research centers dedicating to resolve water crisis of Pakistan through applied research, developing specialist human resources and technologies; academia-industry collaboration and policy formulation. Vice Chancellor Dr. Uqaili said that to empower women engineers MUET always encouraged the female students for research and scholarship opportunities, however, to get the gender equity institutionalized, MUET is going to enforce Gender Equity Plan (GEP) prepared in collaboration with The University of Utah, which is already implemented in USPCAS-W in admission and also in employment.

He further said by enforcing GEP in MUET, the more educational and employment opportunities will be provided to the women consequently they will be empowered educationally and economically. While congratulating the enrolled students, MUET Vice Chancellor said that they are the ambassadors of this institution while the success of this water research center primarily depends on the research efforts of the faculty and students, while he urged them to play a vital role in this regard. On this occasion, Vice Chancellor MUET Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili thanked the management of USAID and the University of Utah for their kind support for the establishment of USPCAS-W a state of the art and modern applied research center for water. He announced that construction work of USPCAS-W new building will be completed in next 14 months while further announced that the Central Library will be remained opened for 24/7 in coming days and assured for the provision of latest and advanced research facilities to USPCAS-W research students.

In the welcome and orientation ceremony, Chief of Party of USPCAS-W Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Chaudhry said that The University of Utah (UU) has recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for technical support to USPCAS-W and also for future joint venture research on water related issues of Pakistan. He said the partnership between MUET and UU is long-lasting and will be proved a historic mile stone in applied research for water. He further said that UU not only provides technical support to USPCAS-W but also enhance research and teaching skills of the faculty and students by providing trainings and exchange scholarships to the various universities of the United States. Dr. Chaudhry assured the full support on behalf of UU to the newly launched USPCAS of MUET. Project Director of USPCAS-W Prof. Dr. Bakhshal Khan Lashari, while briefing to the enrolled MS/PhD students, said that transport, accommodation, Internet and other research related facilities will be provided. He further said that monthly stipend will be given to the students and also the research field study trips will be organized for the students of USPCAS-W.

Prof. Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar presented welcome address while Senior Program Specialist for Gender and Communication Ms. Shabnam Baloch, Prof. Shafi Mohammad Kori and others spoke on this occasion. Pro-Vice Chancellor MUET Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Campus Khairpur Engineer Ghulam Sarwar Kandhar, Dean Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Hafeez-ur-Rahman Memon, Dean Faculty of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, Registrar MUET Prof. Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali, Director ORIC Prof. Dr. Inamullah Bhatti, Director Finance Mr. Muneer Ahmed Shaikh, Controller Examination Mr. Suhail Ahmed Khatian and other MUET officials attended the welcome and orientation ceremony of 1^st Batch of MS/PhD Students.

There were 342 candidates appeared in the entry test of admission while finally 58 candidates have been provisionally selected in three different fields including Hydraulics Irrigation Drainage (HID), Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and Environment Engineering (ENVENG) at USPCAS-W MUET Jamshoro.