Quaid-i-Azam University

The Quaid-i-Azam University (Urdu: جامعہ قائداعظم) is a public, research university in Islamabad Capital Territory of Pakistan. Located in the Margalla Hills, the University is named after the title of the Founder of Pakistan and Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It was initially founded as the University of Islamabad in July 1967. The University is rated as one of top public institution of higher education in Pakistan which has qualified team of teachers and researchers. The alumnus of the University is called as Quadian and the slogan used by the students of Quaid-i-Azam University is Quaidian Once – Quaidian Forever.

Motto وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
Motto in English “and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing”
Established July, 1967
Type Public, Research and Co-educational
Chancellor President of Pakistan
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Masoom Yasinzai
Students more than 2,400
Location Islamabad,  Pakistan
Former names University of Islamabad
Colours Green and White

Affiliations Higher Education Commission

Organization

Administration

The University is headed by the vice-chancellor. The administration section is composed of the Registrar, Controller Examinations, and several other offices regarding management and administration. Each faculty is lead by the dean and departments works under the chair and directors.

Faculties and Departments

Stupa in University campus

Faculty Building of Defence & Strategic Studies Department

Quaid-i-Azam University consists of four faculties and following departments are associated with these faculties;

1. Faculty of Natural Sciences
   1. Department of Chemistry
   2. Department of Computer Sciences
   3. Department of Earth Sciences
   4. Department of Electronics
   5. Institute of Information Technology
   6. Department of Mathematics
   7. Department of Physics
   8. Department of Statistics
2. Faculty of Social Sciences
   1. Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences
   2. Department of Anthropology
   3. Department of Defence and Strategic Studies
   4. School of Economics
   5. Department of History
   6. Department of International Relations
   7. Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations
3. Faculty of Biological Sciences
   1. Department of Animal Sciences
   2. Department of BioChemistry
   3. Department of Microbiology
   4. Department of Plant Sciences
   5. Department of Bio Technology
   6. National Center for Bioinformatics
4. Faculty of Medicine (Following Institutes in Islamabad are affiliated with this faculty)
   1. Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital Rawalpindi
   2. Armed Forces Medical College, Rawalpindi
   3. Health Services Academy, Islamabad
   4. Quaid e Azam Postgraduate Medical College (QPGMC), PIMS
   5. Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad
   6. FGSH Postgraduate Medical Istitute, Islamabad

Institutes

1. National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, Islamabad
2. Center of Excellence in Gender Studies
3. National Defence College, Islamabad
4. National Institute of Psychology, QAU, Islamabad
5. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, QAU, Islamabad
6. Computer Centre
7. Area Study Centre for Africa, North & South America

Academic Profile

Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqui Memorial Library, Quaid i Azam University

Admissions

The University awards MSc, MBA, MPA, MIT, MPhil and PhD degrees. Some short courses are also offered in computer sciences. Some departments offer Postgraduate Diploma while the Bachelors programmes have also been started.

Libraries

Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqui Memorial Libabry is the Central Library named after the first Vice-Chancellor of the University. He also served as the Emeritus professor of Physics at the University until his death in 1998. The Central Library contains over 1,95,000 volumes and subscribes more than 276 current titles of international journals. It provides computerized retrieval of bibliographic library database i.e. Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) for thousands of journals and online databases. The library also has a substantial collection of United Nations as a depository library. Quaid-i-Azam University campus is also linked with HEC digital library which provides access to many worldwide online databases. Some departments have their subject specific libraries located in the departmental buildings. These seminar libraries are located in the departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Defense and Strategic Studies, Economics, History, and Physics.

Research

Quaid-i-Azam University has its repuation as a research facility all over the country. Quaid-i-Azam University has established research collaboration with universities in the United States, Europe and South Asia.

Rankings and Reputation

For QS Top 100 Asian universities QAU was ranked 46th in natural science category for year 2010. The university was overall ranked between 500-600 among the QS world top universities in 2007 and 2009.  According to the 2006 ranking of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University is ranked first in the general category. As per rankings of OIC universities, QAU stood first in ranking among Muslim countries universities. More than 80% of the teachers hold doctoral degrees and have overseas experience. More than 80% of the teachers hold doctoral degrees with experience of working in renowned universities of the world. The University has the distinction of having a large number of distinguished scientists and educationists as its faculty members, holding national awards and international recognition.

Student life

Student Organizations

QAU has a quota merit system with specific seats for each province. This diverse cultural landscape gives uniqueness to the University in Pakistan and students coming from different areas of Pakistan represent their cultural values in the students cultural councils.

Accommodation

Hostel accommodation is provided to the students coming outside of Islamabad. There are separate hostels for boys and girls. Hostel accommodation is provided with shops, cafeteria, laundary, TV room and common rooms.

Extracurricular Acitivities

The University has a gym for sports facilities, and hosts and participates in national level inter-universities sports event. There is an office of students affair which manages students bodies for arts, literature, debates and poetry events.

Alumni

Quaid-i-Azam University has an alumni which is still in the process of formalization.