Namal Knowledge City Vision
The vision behind Namal College and Knowledge City is to trigger innovation for the benefit of the society, by establishing high quality education facilities of international standard with the help of local and international partners. The founding members of highly reputed institutions such as Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) in Pakistan have come together to take on this ambitious challenge of setting the largest knowledge city of Pakistan. This innovation will be a fundamental driver for the economic growth and societal welfare of the rural masses of Pakistan. NKC is a unique venture integrating education with employability. It aims to deliver a distinctive learning experience, within an inspiring physical and intellectual environment. Students will be equipped with enhanced skills and confidence to progress in the workplace, with the passion to continue their learning. NKC will seek opportunities to engage collaboratively with employer organizations and key strategic partners across the public and private sectors, and will strengthen its links with business through effective knowledge transfer.
One of the main objectives is to strategically develop sustainable research. NKC aims to nurture a healthy research environment by exploiting its partnerships with UoB, LUMS and other esteemed research active institutes, which will assist in recruiting high quality research staff.
NKC will ensure to deliver all the services under its umbrella professionally, maintaining a high standard of communication, governance and decision-making through effective management structure and committees.
The development of NKC is expected to happen in three phases. Phase-1 saw the inauguration of Namal College, an impressive building that was completed in 2008 offering short certificate courses and diplomas in higher education programs. Phase-2 will concentrate on the launch of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in various disciplines. UoB will be assisting Namal College by offering training programs for faculty development. The deserving faculty members, who currently don’t have the doctoral level qualifications, can apply for UoB’s PHD Program.
Academies for professional qualifications and links with industrial partners will be established to promote knowledge transfer at local and national levels. One of the major milestones during Phase-2 will be to apply for a University charter, which is expected to happen by the year 2014. This will be followed by Phase-3 (to be initiated in 2015), which includes establishing six academic buildings, enterprises and commercial areas. These building will include School of Science and Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Business, School of Humanities, School of Agriculture and Science & Technology Park.
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Location and Facilities
Namal College is built on land generously donated by the people of the Mianwali District Located a short distance outside the city of Mianwali, on the Talagang-Mianwali Road which extends to Islamabad on one side and on the other side to Waziristan and Tribal Areas. . The college is set on the beautiful countryside on the edge of the Namal Lake which came into being because of a Dam built in 1913. The two storey building, covering an area of 62,500 sq. ft., houses the college administration,
computer science, software engineering and
electrical engineering departments, together with their laboratories.
There are now 250 students studying for University of Bradford degrees at Namal College and more than 90% of these students are currently on financial aid. Namal College is in its 4th year of operation.
The second phase of construction is expected to begin shortly and will include on-campus faculty and student accommodation premises and research laboratories. The sponsoring body, Namal Education Foundation (NEF) currently owns 1000 acres of land, and is aggressively expanding the land holding up to 3000 acres for setting up the largest knowledge city in Pakistan.
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The University of Bradford
Namal College is an associate College of the University of Bradford, one of the leading universities in the United Kingdom. UoB specializes in the technical and engineering disciplines, and has a history of developing and delivering high quality and demand-driven degree programs. It will work closely with Namal College in designing the courses and curriculum, ensuring quality assurance, training and development for the faculty and advising on matters related to academic administration.
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Namal Education Foundation and Imran Khan
Imran Khan is the chairman Board of Governors Namal Education Foundation, which is the sponsoring body of Namal Knowledge City. As a philanthropist, Imran has undertaken a number of initiatives to address the multiple economic and social challenges faced by the area. These challenges include driving improvements in literacy, community organization, health, access to credit, encouragement of corporate investment, and education. Imran Khan has the experience and drive to make Namal College a success story.
Imran’s mother died because of cancer. He is one of the few individuals, who were able to convert their personal tragedy into an ambition to help the underprivileged. In December 1994, after a massive fundraising campaign lead by Imran Khan, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) was set up in the memory of his mother. SKMCH&RC is one of its kind institutions, having gained international recognition in providing free and state of the art cancer treatment to the poor cancer patients.
Imran is also amongst some leading world celebrities who donate their talents to advocate for children on behalf of UNICEF as Special Representatives. He has used his high profile in cricket to support health and immunization programs in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
In December 2005, Imran was appointed as Chancellor of the University of Bradford in the UK, acting as an ambassador for the University in the UK and overseas.
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