| Zia Ul-Qayyum, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission, Govt of Pakistan is a man of exceptional caliber with eminent intellectual standing, proved track record of excellence and a source of inspiration for youth. An alumnus of many prestigious seats of higher learning, including the University of Leeds, the UK, Professor Zia brings along teaching, research, and management experience of almost three decades. An educationist of national and international acclaim, Professor Zia has to his credit conceiving, planning, establishing, and developing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and R&D organizations. Apart from his administrative and management role in nascent institutions in their formative years, he has been an active academician and a proactive researcher. His area of interest in computing research has been artificial intelligence with special focus on machine learning and information retrieval. Institutional development and managing administrative-cum-academic responsibilities especially at embryonic institutions of higher learning has been a hallmark of his professional skills and abilities. During the last decade or so, he has been working as Vice Chancellors including Allama Iqbal Open University and head of institutions/campuses and managing a large number of faculty members to achieve organizational objectives. Professor Zia is tremendously contributing to his society by passing on latest developments in the fields of artificial intelligence, data mining, machine learning, computational linguistics and localization through his research work published in reputed research journals and international conferences. Professor Zia also elected as the first president of COMSTECH Inter-Islamic Network on Virtual Universities (CINVU). He is a creationist, technologist and strong believer of quality education with technological integration and an accessible medium for all. He would like to transform education system of Pakistan through innovation and technology. |
