Just like in the Asian and global university rankings, the University of Lahore is increasingly improving its performance year after year in the core functions of a university i.e. research, teaching and community services. As per the latest QS World University Rankings: Asia 2020, the UOL improved on its 2019 performance by moving from 401-450 to 351-400 in the list of top Asian Universities. In the research domain, which is one of the global benchmarks for the ranking and reputation of universities, the UOL registered a 66 per cent faculty research output leap from 504 articles published in 2017 to 766 in the year 2018. In the same span, the articles published in the ISI journals increased by 61 percent i.e. shooting from 310 in 2017 to 506 in 2018. This consistency in progress clearly indicates that in the next few academic years, a record 1,000 published articles is within reach to earmark.
This monumental landmark was announced on December 13, 2019 during the “UOL research appreciation ceremony for the year 2018” at which 28 outstanding researchers/authors and 9 innovative students were acknowledged and appreciated with certificates, shields and cash prizes. The best researchers were evaluated over the total number of papers published at five platforms i.e. ISI, Scopus, HEC, PMDC and the UOL. Students were assessed according to their outstanding representation of the University in the national competitions and for the organization of impactful and innovative events.
The appreciation event organized by the University Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) was attended by Pro-Rectors, Deans of Faculties, Directors, Principals, Heads of various departments, faculty and students. Mr. Awais Raoof (Chairman BoG) and Prof. Dr. Mujahid Kamran (Rector) officiated as chief guests and shared their thoughts about research at the University. Prof Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain (Director, ORIC) addressed the audience too on the new research funding protocols of HEC, PHEC and other national agencies. Over all, Faculties of Allied Health Sciences and Sciences featured the biggest number of researchers on the list.
Prof. Dr. Syed Amir Gilani (Dean FAHS), took the 1st Position with 55 publications, followed by Dr. Munawar Iqbal (Chemistry Dept.) 31, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Imran (UIDNS) 19, Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad (UIPT) 22, and Prof. Dr. M. Ali Mohsnie Bandpei (UIPT) with 15. Prof. Dr. Arif Malik (Director IMBB/CRiMM) was appreciated for uplifting the level of research in the University while Prof. Dr. Farrukh Iqbal (Principal University College of Medicine) and Dr. Rabia Akhtar (HoD School of Integrated Social Sciences) won the book publishing awards. Two students, Majid Abdul Razzaq (BS. Computer Science) and Abdul Waris Hameed (BS. Mechanical Engineering) were acknowledged for presenting the best startups during the Lift Pakistan 2019. Out of the 52 UOL’s Clubs and Societies, Debating Society and Society of Health and Nutritional Awareness (SHNA) were regarded the best.
