The 10th meeting of the Senate of the University of Swat was held under the chairmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, with participation from Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, officials of the Higher Education Department, and other Senate members.
During the session, the annual report for the year 2023–24 was presented along with a briefing on the implementation status of decisions from previous Senate meetings. The draft of the University of Swat Statutes 2024 was also reviewed and referred to the relevant committee for further deliberation.
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Strategic Plan 2024–30 for the University of Swat. The Chief Minister directed that the plan be submitted to the task force of the Higher Education Department to enhance its effectiveness and scope.
Emphasizing his commitment to expanding access to quality education, CM Gandapur directed that all departments of public universities be included in government scholarship programs. He noted that the provincial government had significantly increased the scholarship fund to support a larger number of students. He further instructed that investment should be prioritized in high-demand academic programs, aligning with market trends and student interest.
The Chief Minister also proposed that a quota be reserved for university graduates under the provincial Ehsaas Rozgar program, enabling them to benefit from business loan schemes and promoting entrepreneurship among educated youth.
In a bid to enhance practical and employment-oriented education, CM Gandapur called for the promotion of the hotel management department at the University of Swat. He also directed authorities to propose projects for futsal facilities in 10 public universities to be included in the upcoming provincial budget.
Additional infrastructure developments at the University of Swat were also ordered, including the construction of a guest house, auditorium, and indoor gymnasium in the girls’ hostels, improving student facilities and campus life.
Briefing the Senate, the Vice Chancellor shared the university’s academic performance over the last three years. Currently, 9,059 students are enrolled in BS programs, 756 in MPhil and MS, and 315 in PhD programs, while more than 18,000 students are pursuing education in affiliated colleges.
The University of Swat is currently ranked tenth in the province under the Times Higher Education Rankings and has successfully established collaborations with national and international institutions, further raising its academic profile.
The meeting concluded with a renewed emphasis on elevating higher education standards, aligning university programs with industry needs, and expanding student support through scholarships and infrastructure development.