COMSATS University Islamabad

The COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), formerly known as COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), is a public university in Pakistan. It is a multi-campus university with its principal seat[3] located in Islamabad. COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) is under the administration of Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South.[4][5]

COMSATS University Islamabad
TypePublic
Established1998
FounderS. M. Junaid Zaidi
AffiliationCommission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South, Ministry of Science and Technology (Pakistan), Higher Education Commission (Pakistan), Pakistan Engineering Council, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Pakistan Council for Architects and Town Planners
EndowmentPKR 300 million
ChancellorPresident of Pakistan[1][2]
RectorProf. Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal[1]
Academic staff
2,679
Students35,452
Undergraduates28,964
Postgraduates6,488
Location
Islamabad
,
Pakistan

ColorsBlue   white  
NicknameCUI
MascotCOMSIAN
Websitecomsats.edu.pk

Overview

The university was established by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) in 1998, while its first charter was granted by the Government of Pakistan in August 2000. Palestine joined the COMSATS as its 23rd member state in October 2015.[6] S. M. Junaid Zaidi is the Founder Rector of the university and continued to serve the university till March 2017. The position of Rector remained vacant for the period of almost three years and Muhammad Tabassum Afzal[7] assumed charge as Rector in July 2020 and was tasked with leading the University after its transition from an Institute of Information Technology to a full fledge university having a new governance structure.[8] Comsats was envisioned as Pakistan's first exclusive Institute of Information Technology. Previously, its name was COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), which was transformed into a full-fledged university called the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) by an Act of Parliament in April 2018.[9][1][10]

This university was ranked among top 250 Asian Universities by QS University Rankings in 2014[11] and nationally it is ranked top-most in Computer Sciences and IT category and 1st overall in the country according to NatureIndex.[12] CIIT is ranked amongst the top 10 universities of Pakistan as per HEC recent rankings.[13] It is also a member of Association of Commonwealth Universities. Its main campus, located in Islamabad, has over 8,500 students and 30,000 more students in its 6 satellite campuses. Its student body also includes international students from over 9 countries. It has 20 departments which combined offer 100[14] degree programs and has since inception produced over 315 PhDs.[15] It has also established the country's first ever Student Startup Business Center (SSBC)[16] to support and promote entrepreneurship and innovation in its academic environment.

International Rankings
University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[17]501-600 (2019)

· In TIMES Higher Education (THE) world universities rankings 2020, CUI has been placed among 801-1000 world best universities, and ranked 2nd in Pakistan. Besides, it was also ranked at #301-400 in THE Engineering & Technology, #401-500 in Computer Science, and Life Science and #501-600 in Physical Sciences subject rankings 2019. CUI was also ranked 159th in THE Emerging Economies Rankings 2020, 131st in THE Asian University Rankings 2019, and was among 150-200 THE top young universities of world in 2018.

· Ranked at 301+ in THE University Impact Rankings 2019, and 5th in Pakistan. Inaugural participant. Besides, CUI was ranked in its 07 SDGS out of 11: SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing (ranked 301+) SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (ranked 101-200) SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (ranked 201-300) SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities (ranked 201+) SDG 13 Climate Action (ranked 201+) SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (ranked 201+) SDG 17 Partnerships for goals 301+.

QS Rankings

· Ranked among 801-1000 world best universities as per QS World Universities Rankings 2020. Besides, it was ranked 135th in QS Asian Universities Rankings 2019. In 2013, it also received the prestigious 3-Stars Rating by QS.[18]

Shanghai Rankings

· Ranked first in Pakistan and amongst 501-600 ranked university of the world by Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) prestigious Shanghai Rankings 2019.

Campuses

COMSATS university is a multi-campus university. Apart from the main campus in Islamabad, the university also has sub-campuses located in Lahore, Attock, Vehari, Abbottabad, Wah and Sahiwal as well as one virtual campus. [19]

Islamabad

The main campus in Islamabad was established in 1998. During the first year of its establishment, the institute offered only a few certificate courses and a postgraduate diploma in computer studies with a single class room and limited resources. Islamabad campus is situated at Chak Shahzad, Islamabad. Currently, more than 8,055 students are enrolled in various degree programs at this campus.[20] The newly built campus is fully equipped with facilities of international standards. It is a marvel of modern architecture surrounded by a lush green environment and peaceful surroundings.[18]

Abbottabad
CUI Abbottabad Campus

The Abbottabad campus became functional in July 2001 and the first academic session started in September 2001. This campus is ideally situated in the vicinity of Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. The campus is built on 308 Kanals of land leased by the Pakistan Army at Toba Camp. The abandoned army barracks were converted into a living campus within a short period of two months by the university team. The first academic session started with a student strength of 121 and only three undergraduate programs.[21][18]

Attock

Attock campus was established in 2004. There are 4 departments,9 undergraduate and 6 graduate programs are offered, more than 2,650 students are enrolled, qualified faculty strength of 179 including 55 PhDs. More than 500 research papers are published.[22][18]

Vehari
CUI Vehari Campus

Established in 2008, Vehari campus started with 45 students enrolled in one program and now it has more than 2,385 students, more than 180 faculty members, 14 programs and three functional academic blocks.[18]

Lahore
CUI Lahore Campus

The Lahore Campus is located on 01 km,Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road and is at a 30-minute drive from the main city. This campus was established in January 2002.

  • Campus Established: 2002
  • Total Area: 185 Acres
  • Total no. of faculty: 512
  • Total no. of PhD faculty: 227
  • Total Programs Offered: 37
  • Enrolled Students: 7148
  • Total Graduates till Spring-2019 : 13317

Wah
CUI Wah Campus

The opening of COMSATS University in the historical and industrial town of Wah was a joint effort of the university and Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) which is located in Wah Cantonment. The university management started campus at Wah in a record period of 70 days. The then Minister for Science and Technology and Chancellor of the university formally inaugurated the institute on 14 September 2001. Initially, Wah campus started its operation in the small guest house of POF. In 2003, two purpose-built academic blocks were handed over to the university on long-term lease period by POF. Wah campus extended its academic facilities by purchasing land contiguous to the existing campus in 2012 measuring 96 Kanals. The campus has also acquired 20 Acres of land near Brahma Bahtar Interchange on M1 motorway to meet its future academic requirements.[18]

Sahiwal

Sahiwal campus situated at Sahiwal was formally inaugurated in September 2007. It has 7 academic departments and 10 other services departments. It has 3800 students from different departments.[18]

Virtual Campus

CUI virtual campus was established in July 2008 and started its regular function in January 2012. The campus was established in offices, laboratories and studios located in Islamabad having approximately 20,000 sq. ft. covered area. State-of-the-art servers, dedicated PERN (Pakistan Educational Research Network) bandwidth, as well as latest audiovisual equipment, was acquired to set up laboratories, studios and data centre. Virtual campus started its first academic session in Fall 2012 offering four undergraduate level degree programs in computer science and management science subjects. The Virtual Campus was stalled in 2016 due an absence of Virtual Education Policy by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

References
  1. President appoints Prof Afzal as COMSATS varsity rector Dawn (newspaper), Published 20 June 2020, Retrieved 2 September 2020
  2. "Administrative Structure". Comsats University Islamabad. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  3. "CUI's History and Quick Facts". www.comsats.edu.pk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. "Profile of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT)". Global Health Workforce Alliance website. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  5. "Quality and Research based Ranking of Pakistani HEIs (Overall Top Ten Universities Of Pakistan)". Higher Education Commission of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. Palestine becomes COMSATS' member The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 6 October 2015, Retrieved 2 September 2020
  7. "COMSATS – Rector". Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  8. "Dr. Junaid Zaidi, founder Rector CIIT | COMSATS". rector.comsats.edu.pk. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  9. COMSATS Institute of Information Technology upgraded to COMSATS University per the bill passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan National Assembly of Pakistan website, Published April 2018, Retrieved 2 September 2020
  10. Sara Ehsan (8 February 2020). "COMSATS University Appoints Permanent Rector In Coming Days". Technology Times (magazine). Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  11. CIIT ranked among top 250 Asian universities as per QS university rankings 2014 QS TopUniversities.com website, Retrieved 2 September 2020
  12. CIIT ranks 2nd among national universities according to NatureIndex
  14. "CUI's History and Quick Facts". www.comsats.edu.pk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  15. COMSATS
  16. "SSBC". ssbc.comsats.edu.pk. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  17. Academic Ranking Of World Universities 2019 Shanghairanking.com website, Retrieved 2 September 2020
  18. Postgraduate Overview, Academic and Research Profile of COMSATS University Islamabad QS Top Universities website, Retrieved 3 September 2020
  19. https://www.comsats.edu.pk/
  20. "Islamabad Campus". comsats.edu.pk. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. "Abbotabad Campus". comsats.edu.pk. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  22. http://attock.comsats.edu.pk/
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