The names of prominent educationist figures in the country, Dr Samreen Hussain and Dr Sarosh Lodhi are being considered for the position of acting chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the term of the Federal Chairman of HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed ended six days ago, leaving the position vacant. A decision regarding the appointment of an acting chairman has yet to be made.
Dr Sarosh Lodi is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, while Dr Samreen Hussain is the Vice-Chancellor of Dawood University of Engineering and Technology.
Profile of Dr Sarosh Lodi
Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi is working as the Vice-Chancellor NED University of Engineering & Technology, since March 2017. Prior to joining as Vice-Chancellor, he served NED as Dean, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture since 2010. Also serve as Chairman, Department of Civil Engineering from 2003 till 2010.
He had the honor to be the first Management Representative for ISO 9000 from 1998 till 2005 and developed a Quality Assurance System for higher education. Through this Quality Assurance System, NED University became the first public sector university in Pakistan to acquire ISO 9000 – 2000 certification in 2002. This system is being used as a benchmark by the Higher Education Commission for all universities in Pakistan now.
He had graduated with Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree in 1985 and obtained Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Oregon State University, USA in 1988. He had honor to won Central Overseas Scholarship in 1994 to pursue Ph.D. in UK and was awarded Ph.D. in 1998 by Herriot- Watt University, UK in structural Engineering.
In 2005 he was selected by the University to undergo administrative training at Pakistan Administrative Staff College Lahore and successfully completed 82nd National Management Course. He was awarded the best University Teacher award in 2002 by the Higher Education Commission and overseas Research Student Award by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, UK for the years 1995 till 1997.
Dr Lodi’s research work is well published in peer reviewed international journals, presented in numerous national and international conferences, so far his around 100 Research Papers have been published, in addition to have co-authored a book on Earthquake, his research contribution was acknowledged by the University and awarded Research Excellence Award by NED University Syndicate and Gold Medal by the NED University Teachers’ Association in November 2016.
He is amongst the pioneer in developing student exchange programmes for NED University students funded by European Union and examples of Erasmus Mundus Mobility with Asia – EMMA in 2008 and Eurasian University Network for the International Cooperation on Environmental Risks in 2010.
He also served as elected member of Governing Body of Pakistan Engineering Council for two consecutive terms and elected member of the Central Council of the Institution of Engineers, Pakistan. In recognition of his contribution, he was awarded fellowship of Institution of Engineering Pakistan in 2015. In March 2019 Presidential Award for Pride of Performance was conferred to Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi to recognize his services in field of Education, particularly in field of Civil Engineering.
Profile of Dr Samreen Hussain
Dr. Samreen Hussain is a Prolific Professional. An Electronic Engineer. Elected Member of the Board of Governors of Pakistan Engineering Council. Youngest and first female engineer as Deputy Convener Engineering Accreditation Board, Convener Innovation & Entrepreneurship Committee & member of PEC think tank.
Dr. Samreen is an alumna of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro. She received her Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering from MUET, Jamshoro.
As a researcher, she has produced 40 research articles published in international Journals and Conferences. She’s also an alumnus of MIT CPE salon program, USA.
President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has conferred Prof Dr Samreen Hussain with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz to acknowledge her services to education, on the occasion of the 75th diamond jubilee anniversary of the country.
Prof Dr Samreen Hussain worked as Vice Chancellor (Acting) of Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design & Heritage. She has also served as Deputy Chief of Party USAID/ Pakistan HESSA project and received great recognition for her work in doing the project up & running.
She has served Sir Syed University, National University FAST, SUPARCO, Humdard University, and ZU. Her achievements at Dawood university are worth mentioning as she had multiple portfolios like Chairperson Electronic Engineering Department, Director IT, DILAA, and Project Director of Strengthening of Dawood UET amounting to 579M.
She was rewarded as Best Performance Award for her services at DUET. At Ziauddin University she established the Faculty of Engineering Science & Technology and in record time started the Education city campus of ZU in January 2018.
She was rewarded with the Best Performance Award for her services at DUET. At Ziauddin University she established the Faculty of Engineering Science & Technology and in record time started the Education city campus of ZU in January 2018. She successfully launched 11 Undergraduate and 3 Post Graduate programs in the faculty.
She was also the sole PI for one of the affiliated labs of the National Centre for Big Data & Cloud Computing worth 58M. Prof. Dr. Samreen Hussain has been actively participating in HEC and PEC forums and organized the first-ever job fair in 2014 from the PEC platform.
Higher Education Commission (HEC):
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is a statutory body formed by the federal government that was established in 2002 under the chairmanship of Atta-ur-Rahman.
Its main functions are funding, overseeing, regulating, and accrediting the higher education institutions in the country.
Atta-ur-Rahman from October 2002 to October 2008; Javaid Laghari from August 2009 to August 2013; Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani (acting chairman) from November 2013 to April 2014; Mukhtar Ahmed from April 2014 to April 2018, Tariq Banuri from May 2018 to May 2022; and Mukhtar Ahmed from August 1, 2022 to August 1, 2024.
Reporter: Syed Zubair Rashid