Directorate of Planning & Development & Human Resource Development
The Directorate of Planning & Development & Human Resource Development have been entrusted with the responsibility of coordination with the campuses viz a viz. devising their developmental needs, assigning priority, and coordination with other organizations within and outside the country, for developing new and strengthening existing academic and research programs, tapping funding opportunities in respect thereof and other tasks assigned by the competent authority from time to time. The Directorate of P&D directly reports to the Rector CIIT. Director P&D is heading the team. Presently the workload of P&D is being looked after by the following functional units*:
- Planning and Development Unit
- Project Implementation Unit
- Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit
- Scholarship Management Unit
- Event Management Unit
- Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT)
- Edward de Bono Foundation Pakistan
- CISCO Networking Academy
- Executive Training/Technical Staff Function & Academia Industry Linkage
*, The use of word "unit" is made to denote an informal entity. Colleagues working in one functional unit/entity transcend and render services across multiple functional units/entities simultaneously.
The graphical illustration of Directorate of Planning and Development in terms of the work distribution along functional lines is presented in the figure below:
The Directorate of P&D has contributed its due share in the development of CIIT and proudly endowed in its journey from a small institution to a multi campus full fledged Institution. Alhamdolillah, the Institution is ranked among top five universities of Pakistan. The roles, responsibilities and a brief description of the accomplishments of different functional units of Directorate of P&D are given below:
1. Planning and Development Unit
Roles and Responsibilities: Planning and Development Unit is the founding stone and core of the Directorate. It has the major role of assessing needs for infrastructure development of all CIIT campuses, devising strategies to fulfill these needs, identifying and preparing development projects, liaison within CIIT and outside the Institution for getting the approval of these development projects from different fora, managing Institution's share of the PSDP allocation, preparing cash plans, work plans, revision of PC-Is, follow/taking up during project implementation, preparation and submission of PC-IV, PC-V and attending to the visitations by the supervisory bodies, etc.
Accomplishments: Planning and Development Unit has prepared over 170 project proposals which are under different stages of approval, implementation and preparation. Out of these project proposals, CIIT has completed 17 projects of worth over Rs. 550 million whereas another 14 projects of over Rs. 6.5 billion are currently in implementation. Approximately 25 development project proposals with a financial outlay to the tune of Rs. 12 billion is in the process of approval with different sponsoring entities mainly the Government of Pakistan.
2. Project Implementation Unit
Roles and Responsibilities: Project Implementation Unit is directly involved in implementation of the development projects approved for CIIT from different funding agencies. This unit directly takes up the initiation of projects. The unit's main activities include preparation of project management framework, building project teams, coordination for prioritization, preparation of tender documents, award of work, detailed supervision of execution of works, processing of bills and adopting corrective measures as and when needed and reposting progress to the supervisory bodies, etc.
Accomplishments: Project Implementation Unit is coordinating and facilitating the implementation of project entitled "Infrastructure Development of CIIT" amounting to Rs. 2.8 billion. Main components of the project include construction of civil works, purchase of labs/other equipment, transport and human resource development.
3. Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit
Roles and Responsibilities: Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit has the role of coordinating, facilitating and managing monitoring and evaluation of the development projects. This unit plays the catalytic role in building confidence between CIIT project implementation teams and the Govt sponsoring agencies. It has the major functions of advising project teams, setting out implementation framework, continual follow up, problem identification and remediation, quality / progress assurance, progress reports submission to supervisory bodies, facilitation / performing site visits, facilitate funds releases & utilization, liaison with Govt agencies, quasi audit of projects to strengthen accountability, providing assistant in revision of PC-I,� if needed, overseeing project closure, rendering assistance in preparing project completion report (PC-IV) and project evaluation, etc.
Accomplishments: Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit is taking care of the monitoring and evaluation issues of 17 completed and 14 ongoing projects of CIIT. The unit produces, coordinates and facilitates the release of development grants by producing more that 200 reports issued monthly and over 135 reports issued quarterly besides collation, collection and compilation of data/documents relating to project management, bank statements, periodic progress reports, coordination for site visits, and informal Internal Auditing, etc.
4. Scholarship Management Unit
Roles and Responsibilities: Human Resource Development is one of the most significant factors contributing in the CIIT's journey towards attaining a higher rank among universities in Pakistan.� The scholarship management unit directly facilitates, coordinates and supervises scholarships with a financial outlay of around one billion rupees (FY 2008-09). The main functions of this unit include ascertaining/coordinating requirements, devise processes & procedures, selection of candidates, legal documentation, placement of candidates abroad, liaison with universities and embassies in Pakistan and abroad, progress monitoring and dealing with the financial matters relating both within the country (Ministry of Finance, Higher Education Commission, State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks, etc) and abroad.
Accomplishments: The Scholarship Management Unit has taken in hand the award and execution of the around 425 scholarships with a financial outlay of around one billion rupees (including 95% of the total amount in foreign exchange). The unit has also played a pivotal role in devising standards and procedures for the efficient management of the scholarships. Until now, nearly 12 PhD and 30 MS scholars have completed their studies abroad and joined back CIIT. Another 100 scholars are currently placed abroad and yet another 100 scholars are proceeding abroad in Fall 2008 for their higher studies.
5. Event Management Unit
Roles and Responsibilities: The Directorate of Planning and Development is also host to an Event Management Unit. Its role revolves around convening national and international conferences, workshops, seminars and consultative forums. It also manages the publication of proceedings and promotional materials of these events, etc. The unit manages such events right from conceiving the idea, securing finances, taking up logistics work, preparing and dissemination of promotional material, issuing call for papers, getting through the review process, arranging travel and stay of scholars to actually convening the event and publication of proceedings. In convening such events, the P&D Directorate not only provided facilitation for convening such events per se but as well set benchmarks, standards and in fact institutionalized making of such arrangements which ultimately lead to convening many more events of similar nature by other functional groups within CIIT.
Accomplishments: The Event Management Unit has successfully convened many international events which projected the image of CIIT on national and international level. The events include 1st and 2nd International Conferences on Frontiers of Information Technology (1st FIT & 2nd FIT), International Conferences on Contemporary Issues in IT in OIC Member States, International Workshop on Technology Based Development: Strategies and Options for Pakistan, and International Conference on Integration of IT in Science Education, etc.
6. Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT)
Roles and Responsibilities: The Directorate of P&D is also Secretariat of Inter-Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT). The INIT was established pursuant to the resolution of the 10th General Assembly Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) held on February 16-18, 2002 at Islamabad, Pakistan. The initiative was taken in order to comply with the desires of the Muslim community for utilizing, directing and encouraging the use of Information Technologies and associated systems to promote collaboration and cooperation in building human resources and institutional capacity through encouraging dialogue, maintaining databanks, assisting in training, research and development, dissemination of information, automating the governmental and business processes through the mediation of IT and provide appropriate means therefor. The INIT has achieved a status of a reasonably active players in the fields of IT for the Muslim Ummah given the resource available to it. The Directorate of P&D is administrating its multiple programs under auspices of INIT devised to achieve its objectives. Under these programs a number of activities including convening international conferences, workshops, seminars, and conducting feasibility studies have been initiated and completed. The efforts have been warmly received by the stakeholders.
Accomplishments: The Inter-Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT) is pursuing its objectives through its multiple programs. Under these programs five international conferences/ workshops have been successfully convened and three feasibility studies for establishing IT institutes in different OIC member states (Sudan, Syria and Yemen) have been completed and presented to the respective authorities for implementation.
7. Edward de Bono Foundation Pakistan
Roles and Responsibilities: Edward de Bono Foundation Pakistan is also working under the umbrella of Directorate of P&D. It was established with the objectives of developing creative thinking skills amongst masses in the country. The Foundation is working to develop and promote workable, proven methods for changing the way people think. Some of the most popular programs being promoted through the Foundation are i) CoRT Thinking Program, ii) Six Thinking Hats, iii) Lateral Thinking, iv) and Direct Attention Thinking Tools.
Accomplishments: Edward de Bono Foundation Pakistan has laid Foundation for developing creative thinking skills amongst masses in the country. The following programs are actively being pursued by the entity i) CoRT Thinking Program, ii) Six Thinking Hats, iii) Lateral Thinking, iv) and Direct Attention Thinking Tools.
8. CISCO Networking Academy
Roles and Responsibilities: The CISCO Regional Academy (RA) is an important initiative of Directorate of P&D. The Academy was established at CIIT in 2001. The Academy primarily trains instructors, besides, of course running the different networking professional courses developed by CISCO and liaises with CISCO in providing technical assistance to local academies (LAs); CIIT is one of the most successful Regional Academies in Pakistan. Besides creating LAs, the Academy plays a mentoring role for the Local Academies (established by it).
Accomplishments: The CISCO Regional Academy is one of the most successful Regional Academies in Pakistan. It has so far established 20 Local Academies (LAs) in the institutions of higher learning, both in public and private sector. The Las are running under the supervision of COMSATS CISCO Regional Academy and during the preceding five years have trained several thousand instructors and trainees in professional networking courses.
9. Executive Trainings/Technical Staff Function & Academia Industry Linkage
Roles and Responsibilities: The Directorate of P&D also works as an Executive Training Centre of CIIT under which different project management and program management trainings are convened for the academia, Government and corporate sector. The Directorate has a role of providing assistance to the Rector CIIT in his capacity as technical representative in various assignments of national and international importance. Furthermore, it actively undertakes tangible activities for promotion of academia industry linkages.
Accomplishments: There are multiple sessions of project management, program management and other trainings convened regularly. Besides trainings, the convening of such sessions have provided an opportunity for exchange of professional experiences for the participants, as well as added to the image of CIIT as a quality institution fulfilling its CSR. The collegial fraternity coming from academia, government, corporate world, etc contributes to the propagation of good name for CIIT. The Directorate provides extensive support to the Rector and other forums of CIIT in performing staff functions, assistance on issues where the Rector/the Institution is represented at various national fora. One of the significant contributions under this function, relates to the Directorate's facilitation and lead in formalizing the Institution's linkages with industry. Some of the more notable agreements signed under auspices of this function include those with NCR, Intel, Microsoft, Huawei Technologies etc. Over Rs. 300 Million worth of technical assistance/equipment has been made available to CIIT under the ambit of such arrangements.
Team of Directorate of Planning and Development, & Human Resource Development
For Further Information
Please contact
Mr. Muhammad Atiq-ur-Rehman
Senior Program Officer (P&D)
muhammad_atiq@comsats.edu.pk
Cell No. 0333-5296501
