AKU researches have most impact

* Punjab University ranked fourth in researches impact

By Khalid Khattak

LAHORE: The Aga Khan University is the number one university in Pakistan according to the national universities’ rankings announced by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

HEC executive director Dr Suhail H Naqvi told Daily Times on Saturday that the research ranking of universities was determined internationally on the basis of Cumulative Impact Factor (CIF) of research articles published by the universities in the internationally recognised journals.

According to the rankings, Aga Khan University topped the list with 694.28 CIF for its 189 research articles in 2006. Quaid-e-Azam University came in second with its 312 articles securing 405.84 CIF. Karachi University was placed at number three with its 226 articles getting 204.58 CIF. Punjab University was ranked fourth at 125.996 CIF for its 94 research publications published in internationally recognised journals during 2006.

The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad was ranked fifth for producing 137 articles that secured 107.95 CIF. The Government College University (GCU), King Edward Medical University (KEMU), University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, were placed sixth, eighth, 21st and 25th respectively. These varsities got 69.888, 51.171, 10.828 and 7.295 CIF for 67, 5, 17 and 3 articles respectively.

As many as 31 varsities from public and private sectors in Pakistan did not contribute articles in 2006 to any internationally recognised publication.

The Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Hajvery University, University of Central Punjab (UCP) and the University of Lahore were among the universities with zero impact factor.

According to the HEC, the universities focusing on arts and social sciences and those degree awarding institutes that were given charters after 2002 have been excluded from this ranking.

Dr Naqvi said, “Universities with zero impact factor need to start focusing on research since they, unlike colleges, are expected to contribute to research along with traditional classroom studies.”

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