Dual degree programme launched between CIIT and Lancaster University UK
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From August this year, 250 Pakistani undergraduate students at the CIIT Lahore Campus will start the first dual degrees programme delivered in Pakistan.
The programme was launched in London on 18 February at a formal event attended by the Federal Minister of Science & Technology Senator Azam Khan Swati who is Chancellor of CIIT, Sir Christian Bonington Chancellor of Lancaster University and CIIT Masters and PhD scholars pursuing higher studies at Lancaster University’s ICT Centre of Excellence InfoLab21.
The Agreement on the Dual Degree Programme was signed by the Pakistani Minister, Dr.S.M.Junaid Zaidi, Rector CIIT and Prof. Paul Wellings, Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Bob McKinlay, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University.
Addressing the gathering Mr.Swati said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Lancaster University and believe that this dual degree programme, supported by two leading institutions, will benefit Pakistani students greatly. This is the very first step which surely would turn into a stride and would certainly develop into a full-fledged and robust interaction in education as well as the socio-cultural levels and as consequence going to add to the international understanding, good, harmony and peace.”
The Minister spoke about the benefits of the dual degree programme aimed at providing an alternative path to earning a foreign degree at substantially reduced costs and without physical displacement or compromising on standards. “The two-fold advantage would be the benefit of an international degree at highly affordable cost but also in the long run to strengthen and further enhance the capacity and standards of educational pursuits at CIIT,” the Minister observed.
Mr. Swati pointed out around 40 million Pakistanis in the age group of 17-23 years were in desperate need of value added education and such programmes would have a positive impact on alleviating poverty, ignorance and intolerance which are the root causes of extremism.
The Minister announced that the dual degree programme would gradually be extended to CIIT campuses at Islamabad, Abbottabad, Wah, Attock, Sahiwal and Vehari. He said since its establishment in 1998, the CIIT has been focusing its efforts in establishing professional linkages with prestigious universities and research and development institutions.
The first joint degree programmes in BSc Computing, BEng Communications Systems with Electronics and BSc Business Administration will be delivered later in the year in Pakistan by local academics. Lancaster will have final approval on the curriculum and the content of the degree programme and will work closely with CIIT on quality assurance of the delivery.
“Our dual degree programme with CIIT showcases the international reach of Lancaster University and we are proud to provide top local learning opportunities for students abroad,” said Professor Paul Wellings, Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University. Prof.Bob McKinlay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said Lancaster had firmly established itself as one of the world’s top 200 universities since its founding 45 years ago. He described CIIT and Lancaster University as dynamic, having ambitious visions, strongly committed to teaching and research excellence and while devoted to their own domestic constituency are extremely outward-looking and internationalist. Prof. McKinlay said Pakistan is unquestionably one of those countries with truly global economic, political and cultural significance.
CIIT Library Staff, Heads of Academic Departments and Administrative Staff will visit Lancaster this year to be trained by experts.
By the end of the first four years of the dual degree programme, an estimated 1000 students will be registered for the dual degree. Following this pilot, Lancaster aims to extend this programme to offer joint degrees with CIIT from all its four faculties including the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Health and Medicine.
CIIT started awarding degrees in 2000 and has grown significantly since then. It now has 17,000 students across six campuses in Pakistan, with plans to expand to seven more campuses.
Based on research citations CIIT is ranked number 2 in Pakistan by the Higher Education Commission (HEFCE equivalent). Its alumni are employed by some of the top global companies.
Lancaster University has been ranked in the top 200 universities in the world every year so far by the Times/QS Global League Table. In the 2008 UK Government’s Assessment of Research, more than 90% of research at Lancaster was found to be world leading or internationally significant with some key areas of research ranked top in UK.