Bahria University

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Bahria University

Latin: Universidad Naval
Motto:	رَبِّ زدْنيِ عِلْماً (Arabic) O my Lord! Advance me in Knowledge
Established:	February 7, 2000
Type:	Public / Naval
Endowment:	Grants
Chancellor:	Pervez Musharraf
Rector:	Farooq Rashid
Students:	4500^[1]
Location:	Islamabad, Pakistan
Campus:	multiple campuses
Colors:	Navy blue / White
Nickname:	BU
Mascot:	Anchor
Affiliations:	Pakistan Engineering Council Higher Education Commission
Website:	http://www.bahria.edu.pk

Bahria University (Urdu: بحریہ یونیورسٹی), also known as BU, is a multi-campus university, with its headquarter in Islamabad, Pakistan. BU has two campuses, one in Islamabad and the other in Karachi. Other constituent units include the Pakistan Naval Academy Karachi, Pakistan Navy War College Lahore, Bahria Institutes of Management and Computer Sciences at Karachi and Islamabad, the Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Islamabad, the Institute of Professional Psychology at PNS SHIFA Karachi and Bahria Colleges at Karachi and Islamabad.^[2]

It was established by the Pakistan Navy in February 2000 through the Presidential Ordinance No. V of 2000.^[2] Though the University was planned to run on self-financing basis without depending heavily on the Government funds, it is yet to achieve this status.^[3] Bahria is a public sector coeducation university recognized by the HEC^[4] and Pakistan Engineering Council.^[5] It offering various 2/4 year programs for the undergraduate and graduate levels, backed by a research institute. The main emphasis of the university is on Engineering and Management Sciences, though other disciplines are also offered. The university also plans to run its own FM radio station. BU has also signed MoUs with Acer and Intel to provide notebook solutions to all students.^[6]

1 History
2 Campus
3 Research
4 Degrees offered
5 Pakistan Engineering Council Recognition
6 Achievements and awards
7 Activities and events
8 Trivia
9 See also
10 References
11 External links

[edit] History

Bahria University started off as Bahria Institute of Management and Computer Sciences, a college for higher learning established by the Pakistan Navy in 1996. The first campus was established at Karachi which offered bachelors and masters degrees in management and computer sciences. Another campus was established at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad which offered the same degrees as the Karachi campus in addition to a Department of Environmental Sciences. In 1998, BACSAP, a student community of Bahria became one of the first Pakistani student chapter to be affiliated by the ACM.^[7] As an effect of the rising popularity of the institute, the Karachi campus also established a new department, the Institute of Professional Psychology (also called IPP for short), offering degrees in psychology at various levels.^[8] The university did not have an official charter until now, and therefore was only regarded as a college.

BU, View from Margalla Road

On February 7, 2000, BIMCS was awarded a federal charter under the Presidential Ordinance No. V of 2000.^[2] It was renamed as Bahria University, with its headquarters adjacent to the Islamabad campus. Bahria University now consisted of two main campuses at Islamabad and Karachi, Institute of Professional Psychology, Karachi, Pakistan Naval Academy, Karachi and PN War College Lahore.^[8] Soon after its charter, it started offering undergraduate level courses in computer and software Engineering.^[9]^[10] A new building was constructed for the Headquarters, termed the New Campus or NC. The university also started offering graduate and doctorate programs in engineering and computer sciences.^[11]^[12]

In September 2005, the New Campus building in Islamabad became functional and all the head management was shifted there. The building also housed advanced facilities for the engineering department which now also included Electronics and Telecommunication engineering. The university also received accreditation from the Pakistan Engineering Council,^[5] which was later revoked.

In June 2006, Bahria signed MoUs with Acer and Intel to provide low-priced notebooks to all its students. It also became one of the first universities in Pakistan to install Wi-Fi Hotspots all over its campus. In August 2006, the university procured over 4500 Acer Aspire and Extensa notebooks to distribute among the students at an affordable price. This however did not go as planned, and the management was forced to mandate the purchase of the notebook by every person seeking admission in the university.^[13]

The spring intake of February 2007 saw the inclusion of a new degree in the Department of Management Sciences. This new degree combined the technical subjects of Electronics and Telecommunication with the elements of management into a new discipline called Bachelors of Electronics and Telecom Management. In August 2007, Bahria included a new department in its regime, the Department of Social Sciences. The first degree offered by this department is the Bachelors in Social Sciences.

[edit] Campus

The New Campus Building of Bahria University, Islamabad which serves as the headquarters.

Being a multi-campus university, Bahria has campuses in multiple locations in the country. The two main campuses are located in Islamabad and Karachi. Other minor institutes are at Lahore, Abbottabad and UAE.^[8]

[edit] Research

Bahria University - Integrated Scientific & Industrial Software

Computer has ushered a revolution in science and information technology. Tremendous progress has been made in computer hardware in terms of speed and memory. However the computer software has not kept pace with the hardware for its proper utilization. Some of the developing countries are playing a dynamic role in computer software development. Their achievements have become possible through the participation of giant industrial establishments with a large team of programrs and project managers. In this process they have established a basis for future technological revolution in their countries.

In Pakistan however an Infrastructure does not exist which could provide the basis for scientific and engineering software activities. In the series of conferences held in Pakistan, participants have pointed out the lack of government/private sector support in this area, together with the shortage of appropriate human resources.

Experts spoke about the poor quality of software product, which cannot be advocated in the international market.

There is a general consensus on the awareness that something should be done by professionals in public or private sectors to assess the role of this activity as a potential exchange, easier for the country and for opening up further avenues for the employment of professionals. With the view, Bahria University has decided to take an initiative in this area and move forward for the establishment of BU-ISIS.

Objectives of BU-ISIS:

To establish the business of scientific and industrial software development and to contribute to the national economy.
To promote the profile of local professionals, researchers and experts in the international market.
To establish links and joint ventures with foreign and Pakistani companies for the promotion of Scientific & Industrial software development.
To undertake projects from national and international clients and generate funds to augment research and development activities.
To undertake projects from national and international clients and generate funds to augment research and development activities.
To publish operating manuals, instruction guides and copyright activity for the software developed by the BU-ISIS.
To provide testing and validation services including post design technical support.
To conduct international seminars conferences and meetings in the relevant area of research.
To identify and suggest cost-effective strategies which provide optimal utilization of available resources to local industries and scientific organizations.

[edit] Degrees offered

Bachelor Programs^[14]

Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Software Engineering
Bachelor of Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics
Bachelor of Engineering in Telecom
Bachelor of Electronics and Telecom Management
Bachelor (Hons) in Geology
Bachelor (Hons) in Geophysics
Bachelor of Social Sciences
Bachelor (Hons) in War Studies
Bachelor(Hons) Naval Sciences
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S)
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Bachelor of Electronics and Telecom Management (ETM)
Bachelor of Social Sciences

Master Programs^[15]

Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Master of Science in Telecom & Networking
Master of Science in Software Engineering
Master of Science Geology
Master of Science Professional Psychology

PMD Programs^[16]

PMD Educational Psychology
PMD Clinical Psychology
PMD Organizational Psychology

MPhil Programs^[17]

M. Phil Clinical Psychology
M. Phil Educational Psychology
M. Phil Organizational Psychology

PHD Programs

Ph D Clinical Psychology
Ph D Educational Psychology
Ph D Organizational Psychology

[edit] Pakistan Engineering Council Recognition

Bachelor of Software and Computer Engineering programs of Bahria University, Islamabad Campus have been accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council up-to the intake of year Fall 2001. And Bachelor of Software and Computer Engineering programs at Karachi Campus have been accredited for three years for Intake Years Fall 2000 up to Fall 2002 and Intake Years Fall 2001 up to Fall 2003 respectively.^[18] This recognition is considered to be a great achievement of university as many universities and their degrees in Pakistan are yet to get this recognition. This also helped in image building of university in terms of students intake and job placement in the market.

[edit] Achievements and awards

Bahria University is the first Pakistani university to join more than 300 universities across Asia Pacific that have deployed mobile computing and wireless technologies.

Bahria University is the first Pakistani university to link its degree program with community service.

To give a world class education environment and to train talents with an international perspective, thereby to accelerate the Pakistan economic development, Bahria University has taken an initiative to equip 4500 students with branded notebooks with wireless technology. In this regard number of MOUs have been signed with leading computer companies like Intel and Acer and one of the foremost bank, Bank of Punjab. These notebooks will be given to the students at very nominal price and with easy installments.

A Chinese delegation of Xinjiang Medical University, headed by Mr. Muhammad Yasen, President of Xinjiang Branch of Medical Network Education College of China Beijing University, visited Bahria University Islamabad on 31st March 2006. They visited various departments, computer labs and library of the University. (The website of Xinjiang Medical University is http://www.xjmu.edu.cn/)

Bahria University will be the first university in the Pakistan to establish a campus at Gwadar. The Prime Minister, Islamic Republic of Pakistan has approved the establishment of the Institute of Marine Sciences at Gwadar while Pakistan Navy will provide land for the same.

[edit] Activities and events

Bahria University and its various units has organized various activities such as:

International Symposium on Biometrics and Security Technologies(2008)^[19]
FPGA based Chip Design Workshop(2008)^[20]
Bits, Bytes & Colors (2007)
1st International Maritime Conference (2007)--Organised by NCMPR,Karachi
Advertising Competition (2007)
Work Shop By Unilever Pakistan (2007)
Annual Carnival and Concert(2007)
Seminar on Cyber Crimes & Associated Laws (2006)
Bahria Gold Day (2006)
Meeting of Bahria Alumni Association (2006)
Microsoft Imagine Cup competition (2006)
Guest Speaker Session on Faith (2006)
3rd Convocation (2006)
Career Fair Spring (2006)
Poster Session Spring (2006)
Bahria Gold Day (2005)
Poster Session Fall (2005)
Advertising Competition (2005)
HR Symposium (2005)
Flash War (2005)
IT Project Management Workshop (2005)

[edit] Philip Kotler's Video-conference

A video-conference session/workshop was held on Friday, 27th April 2007 at Bahria University, Karachi and Islamabad Campuses simultaneously.

A training workshop, titled “Holistic Marketing Paradigm” (How to compete & win in the marketplace) was held at both campuses (Karachi and Islamabad) of Bahria University. Professor Philip Kotler, the world’s leading and most distinguished marketing Guru addressed the top Corporate Executives in the Pakistani Markets.

This was the first time that Professor Kotler addressed Pakistan’s marketing community, live via video conferencing from Florida, USA simultaneously in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Furthermore, special arrangements were made to relay the workshop via satellite decoders to leading business schools to reach out to approximately 200,000 business students all over Pakistan. Thus the event turned out to be the biggest ever in terms of both the distinguished speaker as well as the target audience of over 200,000 persons.

In order to make the workshop relevant and result oriented for both sponsors as well as participants, a content module was devised where Professor Kotler quoted examples of successful national and multinational brands operating in Pakistan. The discussion helped providing a great opportunity for building credibility and appreciation of their performances and plans.

[edit] Prime Minister Visit

On 15 October, 2006 Prime minister Shaukat Aziz visited the Bahria University's Earth sciences department and granted a loan to 15 needy students.

[edit] 1st International Maritime Conference

1st International Maritime Conference on Maritime Threats and opportunities in the 21st Century - A global perspective on Indian Ocean (MARCH, 4-6, 2007). The first three-day international conference on “Maritime threats and opportunities in the 21st century” was held in Karachi between March 4-6, 2007.

The National Centre of Maritime Policy Research of the Bahria University organised the conference featuring high-level presentations focusing on issues relating to maritime threats and opportunities for preserving the freedom of seas and sustainable utilisation of resources towards benefit of the humanity.

The conference is aimed to mobilise working groups and panels bringing together scholars, professionals and experts from governments, NGOs and private stakeholders facilitating stage setting analytical papers.The key areas of the focus of the conference were economic and trade opportunities; maritime security and stability; and marine environment.

According to organisers, the conference will enhance awareness on importance of oceans and its resources through information sharing and mutual understanding. It identified areas of common interest for group analysis and dialogue; mobilise consensus of opinion on emerging issues confronting the Indian Ocean maritime domain; and make recommendations to minimise threats and promote opportunities in areas of mutual interests.

[edit] Sport activities

Galas, thrills, colors, excitement, and friendships all this and more make life on the campus blossom and smile all year around in scintillating activities. Extensive extra curricular activities are a way to soften tough and grilling academic rigor. There are clubs and societies not just giving you best moments of your life but also not just giving you best moments of your life but also stimulating your creative abilities into gratifying self expression. Most of all sports activities play a very important role not only in entertainment and refreshment but also for representing the institute at national level and even international level.

Bahria University actively organizes tournaments in sports like Basketball, Cricket, Football, Badminton, Table Tennis, Hockey, Tennis, Trekking, Volleyball, Sailing and Athletics.

[edit] Trivia

The University has signed a Memomrandum of Understanding with the University of Nottingham to award joint degrees.

Bahria University signed an MOU with Al-Khawarizmi International College of UAE on 7th December 2007 for academic collaboration between the two institutes which will open an opportunity for students of Gulf States to study in Pakistan.^[21]