SARGODHA: A Higher Education Commission (HEC) delegation from Islamabad visited the University of Sargodha (UoS) to review ongoing academic, research, and administrative activities.

The visit was led by former vice chancellor and HEC member Prof Dr Ghulam Raza Bhatti.

It aimed to assess the newly launched academic programmes, their relevance to market needs, the university`s research output, and overall infrastructural and institutional development.

The delegation also evaluated compliance with HEC`s quality standards and discussed programme approvals and future development plans.

Registrar Waqar Ahmadbriefed the guests on the university`s academic landscape, ongoing research projects, infrastructural developments, and administrative frameworks.

He said the university has proudly earned a position in the HEC`s `X` category. The university has submitted 40 patents for registration this year, a significant leap from the total of nine in all previous years.

The UoS is now powered by solar energy. `We recently inaugurated a 2.6 MW solar power project with the support of the provincial Minister for Higher Education, making us a leader in sustainable energy use in the higher education sector,` the VC said.

Focusing on skill development, he informed the delegation about modern laboratories, state-of-theart incubation centres, and handson training initiatives. `We aremoving beyond traditional education by equipping our students with skills that prepare them for real-world challenges,` he said.

He also announced an upcoming collaborative project with China to establish a cutting-edge hospital and boarding school on campus, terming it a gateway to a new era of knowledge and development.

Prof Bhatti said, `The UoS is advancing rapidly and strategically. The facilities, discipline, and vision displayed here are aligned with the highest standards of modern academia.

He praised the infrastructure, quality assurance measures, and the opportunities being provided to both students and faculty. `We are deeply impressed by what we`ve witnessed and heard today.

The university`s operational model and academic environment are exemplary,` he added.