ISLAMABAD - Students of International Islamic University (IIUI) on Wednesday protested against fee hike and demanded to reduce it.
A number of students gathered at university against 5 per cent increase in fee and stopped the academic activities there. Protesting students said increase in fees should be withdrawn.
They said that newly admitted students’ fees have been increased by 50 per cent which is unjust.
Students said that due to COVID-19, online classes were started and students had demanded the refund of transport fees.
Students also said scholarships are closed and university administration should also restore the scholarships.
The protesting students gave the university administration two days to fulfil their demands.
“If the demands are not met within two days, the students will close the entire university,” they said.
Meanwhile, university statement said that IIUI has been placed in top 200 universities in the Times Higher Education Emerging Economies Universities Ranking 2022.
According to recent results, overall there are 698 universities in the ranking this year and 50 territories of emerging economies are represented. International Islamic University Islamabad has been ranked as 179, while only two other universities from the country i.e. Quaid-i-Azam University and Abdul Wali Khan University make to the top 200 slot.
The university leadership believes that upcoming ranking will be much more positive as new reforms and initiatives have entered into mature stage through various steps taken such as implementation of the university’s strategic plan and academic audits. The university is now all set and in a better position to submit its accomplishments and achievements with an approach of quantifiable analysis that will lead to improved and realistic university rankings in future. The university has also started a comprehensive work on research and enterprise that shall also be helpful in improved ranking through linkage with industry, acceptance of international funded projects, collaborations in research and global engagements.
Commenting on the ranking, IIUI Rector Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai has said that recognition of IIUI in the world ranking is a good sign and it is an omen of the university’s new journey to success. He urged that universities must come forward to serve the society, “We will not disappoint the nation, we will come forward with positive developments soon in the field of academic excellence and quality higher education,” said Masoom Dr Yasinzai.
IIUI President, Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, expressing gratitude for the achievement congratulated the academic and administrative staff of the institution and hoped that they would remain committed to the university in the future by continuing their hard work so that the institution gets the top slot in all world rankings in the future. He said that this ranking is a sign of a new dawn of success for IIUI.
Meanwhile, International Islamic University, Islamabad was placed in 601-800 position by Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In addition, out of 21 universities across the country, IIUI has been ranked 2nd in terms of performance. International Islamic University, Islamabad is also on the top among five more universities of Pakistan that have secured a spot, for the first time in the world’s top 800.