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The University of Baltistan, Skardu (UOBS) recently held its annual Teachers & Researchers Appreciation Ceremony, honoring the university's distinguished faculty members based on their performance as evaluated by student feedback. This prestigious event, organized by the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) of UOBS, was attended by key officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Director of Academics, Director of ORIC, and other principal officers, who collectively applauded the efforts of the faculty.

The QEC spearheaded the evaluation process, collecting faculty data from the university's IT department via the online Student Information System (SIS), and researcher data from the ORIC office. Student feedback, a globally recognized benchmark for assessing teaching quality, was a pivotal factor in determining the award recipients. However, in future evaluations, QEC plans to expand the criteria to include additional parameters such as high-impact publications, patents, credit hours, book chapters, conference involvement, community service, projects, and grants. Faculty members will be required to submit their comprehensive achievements annually, within the deadlines set by QEC, to be considered for future appreciation awards.

The award ceremony recognized high-achieving faculty members from both regular and adjunct faculty members across various departments. The list of awardees for the 2022-2023 academic years is as follows:

High Scorers 2022-2023 (Regular Faculty of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences)

1. Dr. Muhammad Riaz – Assistant Professor (TTS), Department of Educational Development (1st )

2. Mr. Nasir Abbas – Lecturer, Department of Business Management (2nd)

3. Kacho Junaid Ahmad – Lecturer, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management (2nd

4. Ms. Naila Batool – Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies (3rd)

High Scorers 2022-2023 (Regular Faculty of Natural Sciences)

1. Dr. Sadaqat Hussain – Lecturer, Department of Mathematics (1st)

2. Dr. Alamdar Hussain – Associate Professor, Department of Botany (2nd)

3. Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed – Lecturer, Department of Computer Science (3rd)

High Scorers 2022-2023 (Adjunct Faculty of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences)

1. Ms. Aroosa Hajira – Teaching Associate, Department of Archaeology (1st)

2. Mr. Altaf Hussain – Teaching Associate, Department of Languages and Cultural Studies (2nd)

3. Ms. Haleema Batool – Teaching Associate, Department of Educational Development (3rd)

High Scorers 2022-2023 (Adjunct Faculty of Natural Sciences)

1. Mr. Ajmal Hussain – Teaching Associate, Department of Zoology (1st)

2. Mr. Sajjad Hussain – Teaching Associate, Department of Botany (2nd)

3. Dr. Wajahat Ali – Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry (3rd)

Distinctions

1. Dr. Muhammad Ali – Associate Professor (TTS), Department of Zoology (Top Project Winner)

2. Dr. Wajid Khan – Associate Professor (TTS), Department of Business Management (Top Ranked Paper Publisher)

3. Dr. Zakir Hussain Qamar – Assistant Professor (TTS), Department of Mathematics (Top Ranking Researcher)

For those questioning the validity of student feedback as a criterion for teacher evaluation, it is important to note that it is an internationally recognized standard. Global higher education institutions employ student feedback systems to assess teaching quality. Notable standards and guidelines include:

1. ISO 21001: Educational Organizations Management System

2. European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ESG)

3. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) UK Standards

4. AACSB Standards for Business School Accreditation

5. ABET Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs

6. HEC Pakistan PSG-23 Revamped Standards & Guidelines

7. Numerous other global accreditation and quality assurance frameworks

These globally accepted standards underscore the importance of student feedback in enhancing teaching quality, aligning with UOBS's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education.

The University of Baltistan, Skardu, remains dedicated to fostering an academic environment that promotes innovation, quality teaching, and research excellence, setting the stage for continued success in future academic endeavors.

Dated: September 28, 2024