On realizing the importance of chemistry in the nation building process, university launched the department of chemistry in 1984 at Muzaffarabad Campus. For the first few years, only MSc Programme was offered in the areas of Physical, Inorganic, Organic and Biochemistry. The department steadily catered for the growing demands of the society by providing skilled manpower. With proper attention given to the education sector, the university also benefitted from and the department started flourishing. Qualified faculty is acquired and well equipped laboratories are established to meet the evolving requirements of the subject. In order to align ourselves with the rest of the world, the department has recently launched the four year Bachelor of Science (BS) program. The program is being mainly run according to the policy guidelines of Higher Education Commission (HEC),Pakistan.
Awards & Honours
The best parameter by which the level of academics and research of a department may be measured is the recognition of expertise of its faculty by independent agencies. In this regard, we take the pride of being the only department whose faculty member has been decorated with the coveted civil award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz” by the Government of Pakistan. Similarly, six faculty members have been declared as “The Best University Teacher” by HEC, Pakistan and UAJK in the recent years. Salam Teacher Award has also been conferred upon two of the teachers. Numerous gold medals at national level to various faculty members further strengthen the list of appreciation. This achievement speaks voluminously about the dedication of our faculty towards academia.
Human Resource Development
ne department has a clear understanding about the role of education in the development of the society. Therefore, every effort is being made to tailor our programs in a way that the graduate may be able to satiate the needs of our society. At present our primary focus is to produce the chemists who are capable of serving the society in a variety of ways. However, in order to further uplift our quality, soft courses of Professional Development (PD) are also envisioned to be added in our schemes of study. Inclusion of such courses is definitely going to further groom our graduates.
Research Areas
The faculty has a keen interest in research and many of them are included in the list of Productive Scientists of Pakistan, published by Pakistan Council for Science & Technology (PCST). The research areas are diverse but applied and include natural products, metal extractions, coordination chemistry, surface chemistry, environmental chemistry, bio-analytical chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic synthesis, sonochemistry and studies of biological activities. All of our faculty members are involved in research activities and are publishing their research findings in the journals of international repute.
Job Opportunities
The schemes of study for all programs are in accordance with the guidelines of HEC and hence are acceptable to all, either the employers or the higher education/ research institutions. The major beneficiary of our graduates is the education industry and we pleasantly take the responsibility of spreading the education from primary to university level. At the same time, the department has been feeding institutions like HEJ Research Institute in Chemistry, Quaid-I-Azim University, PINSTECH, University of Arid an Agriculture, University of Punjab, PIEAS, National Centre for Physics (NCP). Still others are absorbed in the multi-dimensional job market of the country. Likewise, a lot number of students are currently pursuing their PhD studies with flying colours at various foreign and in-land universities.
Co-curricular Activities
The curricular activities have prime importance in physical and mental health as well as development of personality. The department regularly arranges programs and motivates the students to participate in co-curricular activities. Exhibitions, poster displays, seminars and walks are a regular feature of the department at nationally or internationally celebrated days. The students of the department take participation in sports events organized by the university or other departments at the state level.
Future Plans
The Department has planned to start classes in newly built King Abdullah Campus, Chatter in 2015. The department intends to introduce new courses like computational chemistry, medicinal and material chemistry at M. Phil level in near future.
What we offer in BS?
The Swiss scientist Christopher Glaser in 1663, defined “chymistry” (what now we call Chemistry), a scientific art, by which one learns to dissolve bodies, and draw from them the different substances on their composition, and how to unite them again, and exalt them to a higher perfection. Theodore L. Brown, H. Eugene Lemay, Bruce Edward Bursten, H. Lemay in 1999, regarded chemistry as a “central science” which bridges other natural sciences like physics, geology and biology with each other. Keeping in mind both the definitions, the curriculum for BS program is designed in a way that students admitted to this program will not only be able to excel specifically in the field of chemistry, they will be given the exposure to a broad list of subjects including mathematics, physics, botany, zoology, statistics, geography, economics.
In addition, they will be taught English, Islamiyat (or Ethic), Arabic and Pakistan Studies as compulsory subjects. The department also encourages the co-curricular activities, like competitions amongst the students and excursion tours. The interdisciplinary research is offered only on merit basis. Seminars and workshops by Pakistani and foreign scientists are a regular feature of the academic activities which not only enable the students to learn more about the cutting-edge developments in the field of chemistry but also to inculcate organizational and presentation skills in them.
Contact Details
Phone: 92.5822.960406
Email: Chemistry@ajku.edu.pk
