EVENTS HELD IN 2022–23 AT DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Open House and Job Fair

The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi on November 03, 2022 (Thursday) formally inaugurated the Open House and Job Fair organized by the Electrical Engineering Department (EED) of UAJK. After the inauguration, the Vice-Chancellor visited the every single project stall setup at the Department by the students of EED Session 2018-22 and interacted with the students and sought further details of their final years’ innovative projects. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi highly appreciated the innovative ideas and physical demonstration of these projects by BS students and congratulated the faculty members for the quality supervision and dedicated mentorship. He said Electrical Engineering Department of the UAJK is taking solid steps to promote academic-industrial linkages by maintaining the standard criteria of Pakistan Engineering Council.

Dr. Kaleem Abbasi said that the university has signed several important MoUs with the renowned companies and corporate institutions for mutual beneficial relationship with the industry. The Vice-Chancellor said presence of Special Communication Organization (SCO), Patrind Hydropower Project, NIC, Roobotika and Zutex and others in the event is evidence of the close relationship of EED with the industry.

The Vice-Chancellor highly appreciated the efforts of Dean Faculty of Engineering in uplifting the Electrical and Software Engineering Departments in line with PEC guidelines. He expressed profound gratitude to these companies, corporate institutions for offering paid internships, and collaborating and extending other support to the students of EED UAJK. Dr. Kaleem Abbasi said that engineering is skill based degree and advised the students to take their projects to next level with same zeal and commitment. Industrial Liaison Office and Career Counseling & Placement Center played a pivotal role in organizing an impressive display of these projects.

Tree Plantation Campaign.

The students of the Electrical Engineering Department at UAJK celebrated Tree Plantation Week from March 05-11, 2023. Led by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, the campaign kicked off with a tree-planting ceremony in which students actively participated and planted saplings on the premises of the department.

Department Head, Dr. Khalid Khawaja emphasized the importance of tree planting in promoting environmental sustainability and developing a sense of responsibility towards nature. “Trees help reduce air pollution, control soil erosion, and support biodiversity”, he added.

We encourage everyone to take this activity seriously and participate in creating a greener environment. The campaign concluded with certificates distributed among the participating students.

First Aid Trainning

Electrical Engineering Dept UAJK-Official in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS AJK State Branch) organized a two-day training session (January 18th and 19th, 2023) on First Aid Emergency Skills for the students of the department. In this training, the students learned how to respond to emergencies such as performing CPR, Controlling Bleeding, and treating Burns and Broken Bones injuries. The trainer, Mr. Tahmass Durrani from PRCS admired the interest of the students in the training. Mr. Yasir Josh Program Coordinator FA & PHECP, Mr. Adnan Qureshi Media & Communication Manager, and other team members of PRCS also visited different labs of the department and appreciated the measures taken by the EED for providing first-aid in the emergencies.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khalid Khawaja, Head of the Department of EE, UAJK said that to be a responsible part of society, the students of every department need to learn the skills for responding to and providing initial care for injuries or illnesses in emergencies. He thanked all the officials and trainers of PRSC as well as Dr. Ausnain Naveed (Director of Career Placement Center, EE) and Dr. Sheeraz Iqbal (Director of Industrial Liaison Office, EE) for jointly organizing the important session. After the session, certificates were distributed among the participants.

Engineering Expo

The Students from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, UAJK, led by Dean Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, actively participated in the Pakistan Engineering Council’s Engineering Capstone Expo at Islamabad on January 12, 2023. The students showcased their final year’s designed projects and represented the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the mega national level exhibition.

MoU with the Azad Kashmir Blind Association

The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) and the Azad Kashmir Association for the Blind (AKAB) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on January 23, 2022, to work together for the visually impaired persons in Pakistan. Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology, UAJK Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, and President of the Association Prof. Muhammad Ilyas Ayub signed the Memorandum of Cooperation. According to details, the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, UAJK will transfer fundamental and hands-on practical knowledge in Computational skills to the visually impaired in Pakistan. Moreover, the Faculty of Engineering and Technology intends to work on mobility assistive devices for visually impaired persons. Earlier, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi in a meeting with President AKAB Prof. Muhammad Ilyas Ayub, assured that the UAJK will provide all possible technical expertise in assistive devices and Software Solutions to the visually impaired persons in Pakistan.

MoU Signed Between Department of EE and Department of Agriculture, Govt of AJ&K.

Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, Dean Faculty of Engineering, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir along with Dr. Sheeraz Iqbal, Director Industrial Liaison Office of Department of Electrical Engineering called on Mr. Javaid Ayub, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Azad Jammu & Kashmir for joint collaboration in technological advancements of agricultural command areas in the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir on December 29, 2022. The project entitled “Solar-Powered Based Drip Irrigation and Smart Water Management System” seems to be a great benefit to participate in the increase of agriculture command area, productivity enhancement for rural communities of AJK The main objective of the initiative is the venture proposals invited from match-made academia & industry, with the mission to solve a current industrial, economic, or technological problem having a socioeconomic impact, value creation, innovation, import-substitution, and indigenization.

Seminar on Importance of Entrepreneurship

The session conducted on February 1^st, 2023 entitled “Importance of Entrepreneurship” highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship, introduction to the incubation, facilities available for AJK university students in the incubation center of Punjab Information Technology Board. The session helped fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, enhancing problem-solving skills, offering practical knowledge, and providing networking and mentorship opportunities. The session equipped students with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the competitive business environment and helped preparing them for future entrepreneurial endeavors and contributions to existing organizations.

Sports Gala Department of Electrical Engineering

Sports are an integral part of campus life at the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad. Sports make a significant contribution to the all-round harmonious development of the students. Two-day long sports gala was aimed to provide students ample opportunities to discover their strengths through sports and learn important life skills such as teamwork and sportsmen spirit. This sports gala may also serve as a nursery for players to enhance their sports skills for national-level sports. In this connection, the Department of Electrical Engineering organized a two-day Sports Gala for students on December 21 and 22, 2022. Each year, Department organizes an annual sports gala for students. In this, two-day colorful event students and faculty members actively participated in different games including cricket, badminton, Tug of war, Ludo, football, and many others. The event was inaugurated by Professor Dr. Saddat Hanif Dar, Dean Faculty of Engineering. On the first day, cricket matches between four teams comprising students of different semesters were played. On the second day, the semifinals and final matches of cricket were played between the 5th semester vs 3rd semester and faculty vs the 7th semester. The final match was played between 7th semester and the 5th semester. Besides this, Badminton, Tug of War, Laddo and other matches were organized among teams. At the end of the event, the winning teams got prizes and trophies. The faculty of Electrical Engineering and administration staff appreciated the performances of students in different competitions. The guest of the event appreciated the efforts of management for organizing the wonderful event for the Electrical Engineering Students and also congratulated the winning teams.

Launching of Technology Programs

The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) witnessed a groundbreaking moment today on February 22, 2023, as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, officially launched the Technology Programs during the auspicious occasion of the National Technology Council (NTC) NCRC preliminary meeting for the Industrial Engineering Program at UAJK. The three-day NCRC meeting brought together esteemed guests and experts from various universities and institutions to develop the Industrial Engineering Curriculum. During his speech, the Vice-Chancellor UAJK emphasized the importance of curriculum development in advancing education and acknowledged the immense effort and dedication required for its development. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts among higher educational institutions to share success stories and learn from each other’s experiences. Dr. Abbasi also highlighted the urgency to assess the actual needs of the industry and produce human resources accordingly. The Chairman of the National Technology Council (NTC), Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gillani, joined the event through video link and praised UAJK for hosting such an important platform. He deemed it a pioneering work in the history of curriculum development for Industrial Engineering Programs and shared historical developments on the process of curriculum development in the country. Chairman NTC, urged the members to take this opportunity as a breakthrough and carefully develop the curriculum that serves the purpose.

Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, Dean Faculty of Engineering UAJK, welcomed all the delegates and expressed his gratitude to Chairman NTC and his entire team for choosing UAJK for the NCRC preliminary meeting. Dr. Dar shared the university’s commitment to making it a technology hub and making the launch ceremony of technology programs a part of it. Registrar Prof. Dr. Ayesha Sohail, Controller Examination Dr. Sharjil Saeed, Prof. Dr. Azmatullah Khan Sherani from BUITEMS Quetta, Dr. Lubna Farhi Chairperson Sir Syed UET, Karachi, Prof. Dr. Hussain Imran Jafferi, NUST, Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Nadeem Ahmed Sheikh, Dean, Hamdard University, Islamabad, Dr. Hasan Raza, Associate Dean, UET, Peshawar Jalozai Campus, Prof. Dr. Shahid Maqsood Chairman UET, Peshawar Jalozai Campus, Engr. Dr. Misbah Ullah Director UET, Peshawar, Dr. Sikandar Bilal Khattak, Assistant Professor, UET, Peshawar, Dr. Shahab Ahmad Niazi, Chairman, IUB, Bahawalpur, Prof Dr Muzaffar Ali, UET, Taxila, Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Menhas, Associate Professor, MUST, AJK and faculty members of UAJK Electrical and Software Department attended the ceremony.

The launch of the Technology Programs at UAJK is a significant milestone that will propel the university toward technological advancement and innovation. The event marked a historic day for UAJK and its stakeholders, and its impact will be felt for years to come. The university’s commitment to becoming a technology hub and producing human resources according to the industry’s needs is a commendable effort toward the country’s technological development.

Workshop on Reference Management Software

On January 26, 2023, the Department of Electrical Engineering conducted a three-hour workshop entitled “Reference management software” for the students of BS Electrical Engineering.

Engr. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, Dean Faculty of Engineering and technology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir appreciated the efforts of resource person Engr. Dr. Muhammad Ali, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering for arranging such an important workshop that helps the students in improving their report writing skills.

This session was attended and actively participated by all the students especially final-year (7th semester) and 5th semester students. Dr. Muhammad Ali, the resource person, gave a thorough talk on Reference manager software and demonstrated the effectiveness of this tool, and later all the students individually practiced this tool in modeling and simulation lab of the department.

The session was aimed to provide hands on bibliographic citations and managing research documents to the students of the department that elevate their report writing skills and help them to properly cite the research work in documents like semester project report, assignments and, particularly in Final Year Design Project reports.

Overall, this was an extremely enriching experience and participants wish to be a part of such workshops in the future as well.

Career Counselling Seminar by Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology

The Career Conselling Office of Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir organized a career counselling seminar on 30th March, 2023, which aimed at helping students explore different career paths within the field of engineering. The seminar was led by esteemed academician, Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, who is the Dean of Faculty of Engineering & Technology. With his vast experience and knowledge, Dr. Dar provided valuable insights and guidance to the students, inspiring them to pursue their passion and achieve their career goals. The seminar proved to be a great success, with students expressing their gratitude for the informative and engaging session.

Seminar on the importance of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Sunnah in the contemporary world

Department of Electrical Engineering conducted a seminar on the importance of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Sunnah in the contemporary world on March 15^th, 2023. Participants of the seminar highlighted the various dimensions of the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and elaborated the importance of his Sunnah in the contemporary world as it provides moral and ethical guidance, promotes interfaith and cultural understanding, addresses social justice issues, encourages personal development and spirituality, and fosters community building and unity. The participants emphasized that by studying Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) life and teachings, a person can gain insights into values such as compassion, tolerance, equality, and justice, which are crucial for addressing societal challenges. Additionally, the seminar created opportunities for dialogue, respect, and cooperation among diverse religious and cultural groups, contributing to a more harmonious and inclusive society.

OBE Training

The Career Placement Office of the Department of Electrical Engineering, UAJK, organized a highly informative one-day workshop on “Brass Tracks of OBE” exclusively for the faculty members on November 22th, 2022. Led by the esteemed Dr. Syed Basit Ali Bukhari, Assistant Professor of the department, the workshop focused on providing faculty members with a deep understanding of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) principles and its effective implementation within the department. The workshop aimed to equip faculty members with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively implement OBE in their teaching practices.

One of the key topics covered in the workshop was the process of designing Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) and their alignment with the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). Participants were guided through a step-by-step approach to developing CLOs that are aligned with the overall objectives of the program. The workshop emphasized the importance of clearly defined and measurable learning outcomes that align with the skills and knowledge students are expected to acquire.

Another important aspect discussed during the workshop was the attributes of Complex Engineering Problems (CEPs). Faculty members were introduced to the concept of CEPs and how they can be integrated into the curriculum to enhance problem-solving abilities of the students and critical thinking skills. The workshop provided insights into how faculty members can design and incorporate CEPs into their courses to create a more engaging and challenging learning environment.

Additionally, the workshop highlighted the significance of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in the context of OBE. Participants were introduced to the CQI process and its role in enhancing the educational experience for students. The workshop emphasized the importance of regular assessment, feedback, and evaluation to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to ensure the achievement of desired learning outcomes.

Seminar on Recent Research Trends by Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology

The seminar conducted on December 16^th, 2022 entitled “Recent Research Trends” aimed to provide faculty members and lab engineers with valuable insights and guidance regarding recent developments in technology. It featured Prof. Dr. Saadat Hanif Dar, Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology, UAJK as resource person who shared his extensive knowledge and expertise with the faculty and encouraged them to write research proposals to pursue research which could contribute towards the society.

Events Held in 2021-22