VC seeks greater role of Old Ravians in GCU’s uplift

Lahore: Eminent physicist and newly-appointed Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah has sought a greater role of Old Ravians in the development of Government College University, Lahore saying that “alumni, corporate organizations and philanthropists all over the world fund professorial chairs in universities, and I hope Old Ravians would lead and set such a precedent in Pakistan.”

Prof Shah was addressing a ceremony hosted by the Old Ravian Union in his honour. ORU President Kamran Lashari, Honorary Secretary Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt, Qazi Afaq, Naeem Tahir, Col(r) Ikram Ullah Khan, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Tayyab Rizvi, Dr Abdul Basit, Dr Sheeba Alam, Asjad Ghani, Mehmood Saeed, Mansoor Feroz Khan and other members of executive committee were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor said that faculty development was their top and utmost priority for which University needed the support of its alumni, corporate organisations, philanthropists and the government. He reiterated that universities could only consolidate their intellectual capital if they are provided with capacity to attract the most fertile minds and souls to their faculty. The best research scholars, men of letters and seasoned professionals pertaining to different fields of human activity should be converged in University campuses to enrich the students learning experience.

He lauded the role of Old Ravians in developing the University’s Endowment Fund Trust. He also said that the goal to bring GCU in the ranking of world’s top universities could not be achieved without the support of the alumni.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamran Lashari said “Prof Shah has hit the nail in the head, as it has always been a good faculty that makes an educational institution ‘a centre of excellence”. It’s a good teacher that inspires, motivates and guides a researcher or a student on his journey to professional excellence. He said that Old Ravians Union would support the Vice Chancellor in every possible manner.  “Prof Shah, whenever it comes to GCU, you will never find yourself alone,” he said.

Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt said Old Ravians were thankful to Punjab Chief Minister that he had not sent an alien to GCU. “Prof Hassan A Shah belongs to GCU and has just come back to their mother institution,” he added.