ABBOTTABAD, May 6: The Hazara University according to the Higher Education Commission list ranked 16th among 97 universities of the country, Vice-Chancellor Syed Sakhawat Ali Shah said here the other day. He was speaking at a ‘meet the press’ programme at Abbottabad Press Club.

He said that special refresher courses would be arranged by the university for working journalists of Hazara division to improve their professional skills. “A three-month short course is also planned in this regard,” he said.

He added that currently over 8,000 students were studying in three campuses of the university at Havelian, Haripur and Mansehra.

The Hazara University has 26 department and 304 faculty members, 64 among them are PhD while 32 more are sent abroad for completing their PhD.

“Exchange scholarships programme has been singed with British universities, including Leicester, Glasgow, Cardiff and Southampton,” he said, adding that 10 faculty members of the university completed post-Doc from the best universities of UK and Australia.

Mr Shah said that they had formed Friends of Hazara University, comprising well-known personalities of the region to make efforts to help complete the ongoing schemes in the university.

The vice-chancellor asked all educational institutions running graduate level programme to register themselves only with Hazara University.

All those educational institutions, which were linked with any other university, would be treated as illegal, he added.

He said that reconstruction of the buildings, damaged in earthquake, and new projects were underway in the university with the help of different NGOs and government.

“The funds include Rs384.079 million for hostels and administration block, Rs340.337 million for post quack development plan, Rs16.193 million for research and convention centre and Rs34.940 million for girls’ hostel,” he added.

LOOTED: Taking advantage of engagement of police in security after killing of Osama bin Laden, robbers looted at least 13 vehicles on Abbottabad- Sherwan Road on Wednesday night.

According to victims, five robbers blocked the road near Gojar More and deprived passengers of cash, cellular phone sets and other valuables.

The robbers looted pubic and private vehicles from 11pm to 12.30 and managed to escape, they added.