Historical Perspective

The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an international organization. It aims to reduce the ever-growing gap between the developed and developing world through useful applications of science and technology. The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) initiated the proposal for the formation of COMSATS under the leadership of Nobel Laureate, Dr. Abdus Salam.

The foundation-conference of COMSATS was held at Islamabad on 4th & 5th October 1994. Representatives from thirty-six countries attended. The participants included twenty-two Ministers, members of the diplomatic community of Islamabad and representatives of international organizations, like UNESCO, UNIDO, UNEP and the World Bank.

The conference decided that the Headquarters / Secretariat of the Commission would be based permanently at Islamabad, Pakistan, and the Head of State of Pakistan would act as the first Chairperson of the forum. It was agreed that the host -Government, Pakistan, would provide for the operational and administrative expenses of the Secretariat, while the development programs of the Commission would be supported and financed through Technical Assistance Fund. This fund would be established by contribution from member countries, income from services provided to member countries, grants from international agencies and project funds, if under taken under contract.

The COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) was established in 1998, as COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CII), as a project of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), which is an inter-governmental organization with 27 member states in three continents; Asia, Africa and Latin America, namely Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe. Then, CIIT had the status of a public sector degree awarding higher education institution and was given charter by the Federal Government in August 2000. Later, CIIT has been upgraded to a Federally Chartered University in April 2018 under the COMSATS University Islamabad Act 2018.

The CUI functions under the governance of the Senate which is chaired by the Chancellor of the university. The President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the Chancellor of the University. Besides, Islamabad it has campuses in Lahore, Abbottabad, Wah, Attock, Sahiwal, Vehari and a Virtual campus as well.

Established/Charter

1998/August 2000

University Charter

April 2018

Vision

The COMSATS University Islamabad envisions assuming a truly national character for itself in the years to come. It envisions having presence in all provinces of the country. It sees for itself a position among the top five (5) universities in the country; among top 100 universities in the developing countries and top 300, 200, 100 universities in the world respectively in the 5, 10 and I5-years’ time horizon.

Mission Statement

The COMSATS University Islamabad, founded in the belief that understanding enriches all people, is Dedicated to the search for truth through advancement of learning and extending the frontiers of knowledge; to the sharing of this knowledge through education in an academically diverse range of disciplines and subjects; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of Pakistan, the Muslim Ummah, and the World, at large. The University's mission is threefold:

i) Research and Discovery

Generate and preserve knowledge. Understanding. and creativity by triggering enquiry, conducting high-quality research, and promoting scholarship, that benefit students, scholars, and communities across the country, the Muslim Ummah, and the World, at large.

ii) Teaching and Learning

Share that knowledge, understanding, and creativity by providing a broad range of educational programs in a diverse community of learners and teachers, and prepare graduate, professional. and undergraduate students, as well as non-degree-seeking students interested in continuing education and lifelong learning, and for assuming active roles in competitive and culturally diverse environs.

iii) Outreach and Public Service

Extend, apply, and exchange knowledge between the University and society by applying scholarly expertise to social and technological problems. By helping organizations and individuals respond to their changing environments and by making the knowledge and resources created and preserved at the University accessible to the citizens. Using the resources of its multiple campuses in an integrated fashion, the University vies to strengthen the services to the state through the education of a modem work force, research and development, technology commercialization, and establishing and promoting partnerships with business, government and community groups.

Quick Facts about CUI

International Linkages

CUI is vigorously involved in sharing expertise and knowledge from all over the world, with the aim of introducing latest developments in research and best practices within the present education environment.

Further details of CUI’s foreign collaborations with countries located in diferent regions of the world (Asia, Europe, Africa/Middle East, Americas (USA/Canada), and Austraila/ Newzealand) is given on the link http://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/internationaloffice/intlink.aspx

Why CUI

The origins of the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) date back to 1998. The university is one of the leading universities of Pakistan with five (05) broad faculties including Engineering, Information Science and Technology, Business Administration and Architecture and Design with more than 36,000 students and offering 100-degree programs. The CUI is well-known for its trend-setting pedagogical approach, allowing for interdisciplinary methodologies to learning and problem solving, experimentation, and insight. It is ranked among top 3 universities of Pakistan and world’s best 800 universities. In addition, CUI has also developed state of the art Business Incubation Center to promote the entrepreneurial culture to cater the respectable employment opportunities for our educated and technical manpower and development of indigenous enterprises. For details, please visit the link http://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/bic/