Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Former names
 Centre for Nuclear Studies (CNS) (1976-1997)

Reactor School (1967-1976)
Type Public Sector Residential Education and Research Institution
Established 1967
Chairman Muhammad Naeem
Rector Dr. Muhammad Aslam
Academic staff
 140+ including 100+ PhDs
Administrative staff
 550+
Students 1100+
Undergraduates 500+
Postgraduates 600+
100+
Location Islamabad, Pakistan
33°39′23″N 73°15′35″E / 33.65639°N 73.25972°E / 33.65639; 73.25972Coordinates: 33°39′23″N 73°15′35″E / 33.65639°N 73.25972°E / 33.65639; 73.25972
Campus Urban, 360+ acre
Colours Dark Green, White and Sky Blue
              
Website www.pieas.edu.pk

Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), is a public research university focused on the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics located in the Islamabad, Pakistan.[1]

Founded in 1967 as Reactor School in response to increasing industrialisation of Pakistan, the institute started its educational activities with the affiliation of Quaid-e-Azam University, and later became Centre for Nuclear Studies (CNS) in 1976; the institute gained its new name and became independent in 1997. PIEAS is based on a 150 acres (0.61 km2; 0.23 sq mi) campus and has around 135 full-time faculty members.[2]

PIEAS has strong collaboration with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.[3][4] As of 2016, national ranking's rate PIEAS is as the 4th leading university in Pakistan,[5] while QS Asia University Rankings ranked it as 106th in Asia in 2014, 115th in 2015 and 149th in 2016.[5][6][7]

History

The institute was established as a "Reactor School" under the management of PAEC.[8]

Originally, PAEC established it as a Rector School in 1967, but efforts led by Dr. Inam ur Rehman and Raziuddin Siddiqui School constituted and affiliated with the Islamabad University that later became Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU).[8] The QAU started admitting post-graduates to "Reactor School" and began awarding Master's degree in nuclear sciences to its graduates.[9] In 1972, the Fellowship programme was instituted in 1972 and achieved independence from Quaid-e-Azam University in 1976. It was renamed and upgraded into the Centre for Nuclear Studies (CNS) and received its own building in 1978.[8] It gradually increased new thrust in highly specialized areas as new facilities were constructed over the following decades and new curriculum was introduced.[8]

“ ...I have learnt that CNS has been renamed as PIEAS and is becoming a University. I am sure that one day, it will emerge as the MIT of Pakistan... ”
— [10], Munir Khan's Speech at PINSTECH

In the seventies, the institute began hiring a new faculty for the school from all over the country. Vast majority of the faculty came from the PAEC, including Dr. M. R. Haroon, Dr. Ramzan Najam, Dr. Khalil Querashi, Dr. N. M. Qazi, Dr. Naseer Haider, Dr. M. A. Afzal, Dr. H.A. Khan, Dr. Attique Mufti, Dr. Haseeb Zaidi and Mr. Ali Haider among others under the Headship of Dr. Inam ur Rehman.[10] The Centre for Nuclear Studies now had its Nuclear Technology master's degree program and an orientation course. When Munir Khan became Chairman, PAEC, he started emphasizing need for technical education in specialized areas. The Centre for Nuclear Studies started offering Nuclear Orientation Courses, Health Physics Courses, Laser Courses of six to nine-month duration. In 1988, it expanded its scope with the addition of a MSc program in Systems Engineering and in Nuclear Medicine in 1989. The institute gained its current name in 1997; in 2000, by efforts of Dr. Inam ur Rehamn, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad (then Chairman, PAEC) and Faculty, it was granted the university charter by Government of Pakistan.[8]

Campus

The PIEAS campus is sprawled over an area of about 360+ acres. The physical structure comprises 9 academic blocks, 8 workshops, production-plants for liquid nitrogen and oxygen, 30 laboratories, lecture halls, video-conferencing facility, conference rooms, a 400-seat auditorium.

A state-of-the-art computer center with 200 computers provides computational facilities around the clock for seven days of a week. PIEAS is an associate of PERN network has the access to HEC Digital Library that can be accessed from any one of the 1500 nodes of PIEAS Local Area Network. Internet facilities are available even in student hostels. The PIEAS library holds a repository of more than 15000 artifacts and it also subscribes to both technical and academic journals. PIEAS Library has extended hours to facilitate students' access to the library. A new library block is under construction.

Residential facilities

PIEAS provides hostel facilities for both female and male students. Majority of the students stays in the hostels. There are eight hostel blocks including a separate female hostel, subsidized mess, canteen, fitness centre, a rest-house, indoor and outdoor sports facilities. A post office, a bank and shops for commonly required items are available in the vicinity. A newly constructed mosque is a recent addition.

Academics

The current major areas of academic and technical activities available at the institute are Computer and Control Systems, Applied Electronics, Applied Mathematics & Numerical Analysis, Analytical Chemistry, Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science & Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Radiation Physics, Optics & Laser Physics, Polymer laboratory and Nuclear Medicine. Although PIEAS offers BS, MS, M Phil and PhD degree programs, yet the postgraduate degree programs dominate. In addition to the degree programs, PIEAS also offers specialized short courses to engineers, scientists and other professionals for their continuing professional development. The length of these courses vary from 2 to 18 months and the areas covered have included reactor supervision and operation, health physics, medical physics, laser technology, vacuum technology, computer applications advanced reactor safety and management sciences.

Degree programs

The disciplines and the degree programs offered by PIEAS have been tabulated below. The regular duration of BS and MS / M Phil degree programs is 4 and 2 years, respectively.

Discipline Degree Program
BS, MS / M Phil, Ph.D.
Chemical Engineering Green tick Green tick
Electrical Engineering Green tick Green tick Green tick
Mechanical Engineering Green tick Green tick Green tick
Metallurgy and Materials Engineering Green tick Green tick
Nuclear Engineering Green tick Green tick
Computer and Information Sciences Green tick Green tick Green tick
Physics Green tick Green tick

Faculty

PIEAS has around 135 highly qualified full-time faculty members in the diverse fields of physical sciences, engineering and medicine. Ninety five (95) of them have PhD degrees from highly reputed institutions of USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, China, Japan, Austria and Australia. Another 25 faculty members are expected to complete their PhD studies during 2013 and 2014. PIEAS faculty members have published more than 650 papers in international journals and have been decorated with 03 Sitara-e-Imtiaz, 02 Tamgha-i-Imatiaz, 3 President's Pride of Performance, 1 President's Medal for Technology, 1 Aizaaz-e-Kamal, 3 Aizaaz-e-Fazeelat, and 9 Best Teacher Awards.

Research and industrial liaison

PIEAS, today is a multifaceted educational institution, with academic and training programs being conducted at the highest level in a broad spectrum of disciplines. These are complemented by an active R&D program, which now also extends to working on industry related projects. In this context, several products of industrial use, like PC-controlled drill machine, PC-controlled milling machine, and robotic manipulators have been developed. Specialized systems for educational purposes such as PC-controlled multi-variable tank have also been supplied to various institutions. Currently there are more than 100 doctoral candidates registered in the PhD program in Nuclear Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Nuclear Medicine and Computer Science.

Rankings, honors and awards

As of September 2016
University rankings
Asia
QS[11] 146

PIEAS’s excellence was recognized on the national level when PIEAS was declared to be the best Engineering University in Pakistan by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in its first ever ranking of universities in year 2006. PIEAS successfully defended its title as the Best Engineering University in Pakistan in HEC’s second ranking carried out in year 2012. Currently the university is ranked as the top engineering institute of Pakistan by the HEC in "engineering and technology" category, as of 2013.[5] QS World University Rankings ranked the institute top in Pakistan and 106th in Asia in 2014.[7] QS World University Rankings ranked the institute fifth in Pakistan and 146th in Asia in 2016.

PIEAS has active links with the reputed universities in developed countries and these links have been very helpful for excellent development of PhD program at PIEAS.

Student life

Societies and clubs

There are 9 societies presently working at PIEAS under SADiv. The main office bearers of these societies are elected from the student body. Nevertheless, links between the members of these societies and the corresponding in charge from faculty is always maintained for coordination. These societies include PIEAS Literary Society, PIEAS Thematic Society, PIEAS Cyber Gaming Society, PIEAS Performing Arts Society, PIEAS Volunteer Society, Society for Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Leadership, PIEAS Debating Society, PIEAS PROPONO Society and PIEAS Blood Donors Society. In addition to these there are also a few sports clubs and student chapters of IEEE and ASME.

Student media

PIEAS Literary Society has been writing quarterly newsletters by the name of 'Zeest' since the Fall of 2013 and yearly magazines by the name 'Dareecha' since 2012. Both these publications are available in a PDF format from the official website of PIEAS,[12] whereas only the annual magazine's hard copy is distributed among the student as of now. The quarterly newsletter 'Zeest' was first launched by Nauman Shahid Khan, who is a student of PIEAS. This publication was later carried forward by Abdul Rafay, another student of the university. It is now being published under the management of a Mechanical Engineering Student, Ammar Qaseem, who is the present Chief Editor of this publication.

Notable alumni

Its initial notable faculty included:

References

  1. ↑ "Google maps of PIEAS". Google maps. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "About PIEAS". PIEAS Official Website. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  3. ↑ "PIEAS Affiliations". PIEAS Official Website. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  4. ↑ "PIEAS Affiliations". PIEAS Official Website. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  5. 1 2 3 "Category wise ranking of universities". HEC Category: HEC Ranking. HEC Official Website. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "PIEAS NEWS". PIEAS Official Website. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  7. 1 2 Rank
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 PIEAS Genesis. "PIEAS Genesis". PIEAS Genesis. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Genesis". PIEAS. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Nuclear Files: Munir Ahmad Khan on PIEAS, 1999". Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  11. ↑ "QS University Rankings: Asia 2016". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  12. ↑ "PIEAS Official Website - Publications Page".
  13. ↑ "Munir Ahmad Khan:The Real Father of Pakistan's Atomic Bomb". Retrieved 11 September 2015.
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