Beaconhouse National University has become a member of newly formed Academic Consortium named “Lahore Center of Excellence for Creativity and Design”. Other leading academic and technical institutes who are participating in this consortium are Pakistan School of Fashion and Design (PSFD), Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Punjab University School of Art and Design (PU), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), National College of Arts (NCA), Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC), and Pakistan Initiative for Strategic Development and Competitiveness (PISDAC).

The objective of this consortium is to encourage students to take courses with credit at any member institution. The members of consortium will work to create synergy to facilitate industries in particular the gem and jewellery industry.

To formalize the creation of the consortium, an MOU signing ceremony was held at PCSIR, Lahore on 23 November 2007. The distinguished guests at the ceremony included Dr. Warren Weinstein Country Director (PISDAC) USAID, Ms Anne Aarnes Mission Director (USAID), Dr. Javed Arshad Chairmain PCSIR, and Dr. Gulzar Haider Dean School of Fashion and Design BNU.

The Beaconhouse Music Society (BMS) held a concert in the courtyard of the city campus on 20th November. The event was sponsored by Rica Lewis, an Italian clothing company. Students from various departments participated in the event which included performances with violin, piano and duets. The last item of the event was a performance by the Overload band.

Awards were announced for best performances by Rica Lewis.

BNU Welcome Party 07 was organized on Nov 16, 2007 in City Campus, Zafar Ali Road. The event was a joint effort between UNS Productions, a top event management company, and BNU students. The event was sponsored entirely by Ti Amo Café, Pizza Hut and KFC.

The event comprised of mime performances, musical performances and comical videos presented by the students. Several band groups also presented their musicals.

All the events were greatly enjoyed by the capacity filled audience. The festivities continued late into the evening. Food stalls were set up outside the venue by all sponsors and Café BNU was open till the very end of the function.

BNU Library has organized a two days (5th &6th Nov.) Book Fair at Beaconhouse National University City Campus Zafar Ali Road Lahore. This was third time that BNU library initiated such a show with increased figure of book sellers & vendors. A large variety of books by local as well as foreign writers were displayed.

The two days Book Fair was inaugurated by Mr. Sartaj Aziz, the Vice chancellor BNU on 5th November 2007. A large no. of students and faculty were attended the inaugural ceremony. BNU Librarian Mr. Muhammad Aslam & his team welcomed the honorable chief guest. Following book sellers participated in the Book Fair.

• Allied Book Company
• Multi-Line Book Company
• Star Books
• Galaxy Books
• Progressive International Agencies
• Punjab Book Company
• International Book Agency
• Pak Book Corporation
• Book field International
• Vanguard Books
• Paramount Publishing enterprises
• Shakespeare Books
• Book State
• Sethi Books
• Hero Books

An inspection committee of Higher Education Commission (HEC) comprising of Prof. Dr. Riaz Hussain Qureshi, Advisor (Learning Innovation and Quality Assurance) and Mr. Wasim Hashim Syed, Project Director, Foreign Faculty Hiring Program, HEC visited BNU on 22 Oct 2007. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the university for up gradation of its status from “X” to “W”.

Chairperson of BNU foundation Mrs Nasreen Kasuri, the Vice Chancellor Mr. Sartaj Aziz, and Deans of different schools were also present on this occasion.

The committee was given presentation on the programs offered by BNU, physical facilities, at present and in future, faculty, library facilities, research programs, and endowment fund.

The committee had a round of the City Campus and was shown around the different schools. Afterwards the committee members traveled to the site of Tarogil Campus and observed the progress of work on the new campus.

The foundation stone veiling ceremony of the central block of the Beaconhouse National University, Tarogil Campus was held at Royal Palm golf club on 12th of September 2007.

The chief Guest of the ceremony was Minister of Punjab, Chaudhary Pervez Elahi. The Chairperson of BNU foundation Mrs Nasreen Kasuri, the Vice Chancellor of BNU Mr. Sartaj Aziz, and directors of BNU foundation were also present on this occasion. The Deans of schools, Faculty Members, Staff and the Students, were also present.

The Vice Chancellor, in his address, highlighted the vision of the university and thanked the Government of Punjab for its moral and material support towards BNU. The Chairperson, Mrs Nasreen Kasuri, in her speech stressed the importance of encouraging certain academic disciplines like Jewellery Design which could be of immense benefit for the country export.

The chief Minister, Mr Pervaiz Elahi, said that his government's support to BNU was part of his government policy of supporting public- private partnerships. He greatly appreciated the contribution of the Beaconhouse group to the cause of education in Pakistan.

School of Education has offered two teacher training courses for HEC this year. The first of these courses “Teaching English as a Second Language” was offered from April 7 – May 12, 2007; the second course on “Teaching English for Academic Purposes and Study Skills” was offered from June 23 – July 28, 2007. Both the courses had an overwhelming participation from public and private sector. The courses were part of a series of teacher training courses that SE is offering for English Language Teaching Reforms Project of Higher Education Commission (HEC). HEC is offering fellowships to public sector university and college teachers for these courses.

Both the courses concluded with certificate awarding ceremonies. Dr Shaukat Ali, Director Public Instructions, Punjab was the chief guest at these ceremonies. Other guests included such distinguished personalities from BNU as Dr Gulzar Haider and Dr Khaver Zia..

A total of 71 students have been awarded certificates for completing these courses.

The names of SMC Alumni employed by various institutions are as follows:

Batch: 2003-2005

Ayela Din: Working as Lecturer in SMC

Zainab Bashir: Looking after her family business of Import and Export

Sadaf Daha: Worked for SMC as T.A and Administrator

Warda Khalid: Teaching in IKAS

Neelum Zia: Worked as an Instructor in Discovery Center and presently studying in Al-Huda, Islamabad

Ayla Hassan: Indus TV newscaster, Karachi Ahmad Usman: Working in JWT as Media Planner


Batch: 2004-2006

Saira Bokhari: Content Writer in Vintage Publications

Mina Sohail: Content Writer in GRS

Beenish Haroon: PRO in Mobilink

Hina Ejaz: Teaching in Salamat

Farah Farouk: Event Manager in JNS

Nudrat Khawaja: Editor Dawn TV

Fayaz Hussain : ARY 1 Reporter

Abdul Razzaq: Associate Director GEO TV


The names of SE Alumni employed by various institutions are as follows:


Batch: MSA 2003-2004

Fakhra Shahid: Headmistress Senior School, BSS- Garden Town Campus

Khalid Saifur Khawaja: Vice Principal, Lahore College of Arts & Sciences (LACAS)

Musarrat Mashhadi: A Levels Administrator, The Resource Academia School System

Reeba Jennifer: Academic Coordinator, Lahore College of Arts & Sciences (LACAS)

Riffat Z. Shahid: Principal, BSS- Johar Town Campus

Saima Noreen: Administrative Assistant BSS, Head Office (former)

Sabahat Mazhar: Teacher, International Campus of Advance Studies, ICAS (former)

Sana Mansur: Teacher, Learning Alliance

S. Mujahid Haider: Science Coordinator, BSS-Regional Office, Lahore

Noor us Sabah Baqar: System Coordinator, Urdu, BSS- Head Office

Abdul Haseeb: Senior Master, BSS-Canal Side Campus (former)


Batch: MSA 2004-2005

Asma Fakhr: Senior Mistress, The City School, Gulberg Campus

Rubina Altaf: School Head, The Educators, Grand Campus

Sadaf Haider: School Head, BSS- Upper Mall Branch

Fauzia Jafri: A Levels Coordinator, BSS

Faiza Shahrukh: English Teacher, BSS-Garden Town Campus, Lahore

Khola Hasan: Academic Coordinator, BSS

Samina Sarwar: Academic Coordinator, Lahore Grammar School

Farrukh Shafique: Teacher, The Punjab School, Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lahore

Amira Bashir: Teacher, The Punjab School, Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lahore

Farazeh Syed: Teacher A levels, Lahore Grammar School


Batch: MSA 2005-2006

Asmat Zahra: I T Teacher, BSS- Peco Road, Township Lahore

Rubina Shah: Teacher / Coordinator, English Language & Literature, BSS- BMTL

Sadia Najam: English Teacher/ Coordinator, SICAS

Naila Khalid: Senior Mistress, Junior Campus-BSS

Ambreen Jilani: Teacher, Les Anges Montessori Academy, BSS- 51 FCC

Rizwana Iqtidar: Teacher, Les Anges Montessori Academy, BSS- 51 FCC

Feroza Mansoor: Teacher, Les Anges Montessori Academy, BSS- 51 FCC (former)

Unsia Bano: Department System Course Coordinator Urdu, BSS- Head Office

These among other BNU students had received the honory degree on the convocation held on 24th March, 2007. Governor of Punjab, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Khalid Maqbool, who is also the Chanchellor of university presided over the convocation.

BNU fulfills its promise by granting scholarships to students both on merit based and need based to 194 students..

Out of 194, 32 students belonged to Sva/ScAD foundation year. SVA granted 19 students with the scholarship while 24 students were marked by ScAD. SLA nominated 29 students. 39 Students belonging to SMC made it to get scholarship. SCIT awarded 11 students. Department of Psychology and Department of Economics granted 11 and 25 students with scholarships respectively and SE nominated 4 students.

The First Convocation of Beaconhouse National University, Lahore was held on 24th March, 2007 at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Lahore to confer degrees to the first batch of graduating students. Governor of Punjab, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mr. Khalid Maqbool , who is also the Chancellor of university, presided over the Convocation. The Convocation was attended by Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University Mr. Sartaj Aziz , Chairperson of Beaconhouse National University Foundation Mrs. Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Members of the BNU Board, Deans of BNU schools, Faculty, Parents and Graduates.

A total of 56 students were conferred degrees on this occasion. Of this, 31 students graduated from Masters in School Administration program, 16 from MA in Mass Communication program, 2 from MA English Literature, 5 from BA Hons. Theatre, Film & TV Studies. Gold medals were awarded to 3 graduating students from Masters in School Administration program and 2 from MA in Mass Communication program.

The Convocation also marked the award of an honorary degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Cultural Studies to Ms. Margherita Boniver, Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Italy.

On this occasion, the University awarded Distinguished Professorships to Mr. Nayyar Ali Dada and Ms. Yasmeen Cheema.Mr. Dada was appointed as Distinguished Professor of Architectural Practice for his sustained pursuit of design excellence and innovative construction, towards a critically considered continuity of traditional principles.

Ms. Yasmin Cheema was appointed as Distinguished Professor of Architectural Research for her work of measurement, delineation and multi-layered analysis of UCH Monument Complex in Bahawalpur.

The Vice Chancellor in his address of welcome highlighted the vision of BNU and the major steps taken by the management towards the establishment of the University. He mentioned that the new campus of the University is under construction and would be ready by the beginning of 2008. The Vice chancellor also mentioned that generous grant of Rs. 100 million has been made by Mr. Hussain Dawood, Rs. 150 million by Mr. Izzat Majeed and Rs. 10 million by Mr. M.P. Bhandara towards the establishment of the University. Regarding graduated students he noted that out of 56 students who have received their degree, all except one were already employed.

In his presidential address, Governor of Punjab greatly appreciated the progress made by BNU during the last two years and offered full government support to the management of BNU in different ventures.

Students of textile design at ScAD, had a one week natural dyeing workshop with Mr. Tariq Habib Mirza who aims and works towards restoring the centuries old indigenous craft of natural dyeing.

Trained as a sculptor under artists like Philip King and Sir Anthony Caro at St. Martin’s in the early 60s Mr. Mirza lived in Iran during the late 60s and early 70s where his family had its oriental carpet business. In Iran he concentrated on mastering the crafts of natural dyeing, carpet weaving and designing. Upon his return to Pakistan he continued the family business with a focus on reviving the best of ancient techniques and rediscovering the almost lost traditional natural dyeing practices of the sub-continent.

Mr. Mirza was more than happy to share his knowledge and experiences with the students of Beaconhouse National University. The workshop comprised interactive discussions on natural dyeing, carpet weaving, designing, qualities of wool and silk yarns as well as practice based exercises, where students prepared their own dye baths, treated their fabric swatches with various mordants, and dyed their samples at different temperatures and for varying durations to observe the effect on the final colours obtained.

Natural dyes are derived directly from plants, insects and minerals. Unlike synthetic dyestuffs they are eco-friendly and the shades achieved not only retain their beauty and luster over centuries but seem to actually improve with time. Being custodians of such great traditional practices and rich cultural heritage, studying craft revival is essential for students in our part of the world.

School of IT arranged a one day recreational trip for students to Islamabad on Saturday 7th April, 2007,

Total 25 students took the opportunity. Among them, 7 students belong to Department of Economics and rest were from School of IT. The trip was supervised by three faculty members, Dr. Khaver, Yawar Abbass and Wajeeh Usman.

In Islamabad, the group first visited Shaker Purina for sight seeing. After that, they visited Faisal Mosque and had their lunch. They went for shopping to Jinnah Super market. At the end, the group enjoyed the sunset at Damn-e-Koh.

Wisaaq, a play by the Beaconhouse National University (BNU), enthralled the audience on the fifth day of the Rafi Peer’s Youth Performing Arts Festival on Tuesday 17th April. 2007.

The play depicts the life of a psychopath who has faced many tragedies and has become hopeless. The artists were Basir, Zeeshan, Mahrukh, Zilay M Arshad, Taseen, Omer, Zain, Adil, Sabtain, Maria, Zainul Abdeen and Aiza. The hall was jam-packed by the audience most of them were from the BNU.

It is widely recognized that the basic purpose of a university is not merely the dissemination of the existing knowledge in different disciplines but to add to this store of knowledge through enquiry, research and interaction. Keeping this objective in view, BNU will establish, within the School of Social Sciences, an Institute of Public Policy (IPP) to develop gradually into an independent centre for applied economics and social research.

In the first meeting on October 2, 2006, the Advisory Council of IPP adopted the following mission statement.

"The institute will work in the areas of importance for improving the welfare of the citizenry. Its work will focus in particular on public policies in the areas of economic, social and political development, as well as on foreign policy. Particular emphasis will be given to identifying areas of public policy that would help create an environment in Pakistan’s immediate neighborhood that would help the country to achieve its interests. In its work on domestic policies, the institution will work on identifying the determinants of political stability as they apply to Pakistan. These include civil-military relations and the problems caused by the rise of religious extremism in the country as well as in its neighborhood."



Proposed Activities
In the initial phase, IPP will undertake the following activities:

(a) Present an independent and objective analysis of the economy with reference to major economic and social issues of the time. This will be done in an annual report, The State of the Pakistani Economy and Society, to be issued in the first quarter of each year. The report’s release will be timed in order to provide an input into the formulation of the budgets by the federal and provincial governments.

(b) Provide strategic analyses of the concepts and doctrines in selected areas of public policy. These will be presented in the form of “policy papers” to be released from time to time. These papers will deal with, inter alia, the various facets of internal security and defense and will orchestrate the elements of public policy in various areas. Workshops will be held in various parts of the country to discuss the main findings of these papers.

(c) Undertake research in areas that are important for regional cooperation. These would include security issues, peace and confidence building in the South and South West Asian region. In this context the Institute will seek formal and informal association with regional and international institutions.

(d) Conduct monthly and quarterly seminars and workshops to bring together policy makers, experts and members of the civil society to debate issues of public policy.

(e) Sponsor a monthly lecture and discussion series with prominent experts invited to lead the discussions.

(f) Participate in international seminars and conferences.

(g) Publish a quarterly journal on public policy issues.

(h) Establish e-publishing, an interactive website and produce selected publications in the print media.

(i) Produce at least four major think pieces in a year, which are suitable for publication in referred journals.

(j) Undertake Funded Research Projects.



The initial composition of the Council of Advisors is as follows:

1. Mr. Shahid Javed Burki    (Chairperson)
2. Gen. Jehangir Karamat
3. Mr. Shahid Hamid
4. Dr. Akmal Hussain
5. Mr. Shahid Hafiz Kardar
6. Mr. Ziad Alahdad

The Here and There (HAT) Program is an exchange of 20 artists and makers between Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, taking place between September 06 and March 07. Each artist will spend up to three months engaged in practice-based research, working within a host organization. The broad research theme, which will be common to all the residencies, will explore the idea of displacement and examine the ways in which new work is developed in response and in relation to new cultural contexts and perspectives. More detailed information about the Programme can be found at www.hat.mmu.ac.uk

Hosting:
The School of Visual Arts and The School of Design and Architecture are currently host to three artists from the UK. This residency is a collaboration between HAT (Here and There), MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University), and BNU (Beaconhouse National University). The resident artists will be working as well and presenting lectures on their practice, at the School of visual arts , Tarogil Campus. The artists are Tabitha Moses and Chatwin : Martin. As part of the continuing collaboration, two artists from the faculty at BNU have been nominated as artists-in-residence, in Manchester, UK. Rashid Rana is currently resident artist, while Masooma Syed will be undertaking the residency in January 2007 .

The Resident Artists:
Tabitha Moses
Tabitha is an artist who explores objects and clothing as carriers of identity, memory and loss, responding to and revealing the histories of people, spaces and places. She creates artefacts from material which bears the weight of memory and the marks of time. For more on the artist: http://www.hat.mmu.ac.uk/residencies/profile
Chatwin : Martin
Chatwin: Martin is a 30 year collaboration between artists Peter Chatwin and Pamela Martin. The artists work, often paintings, are bred of a curiosity about the natural world and the environment, which has led them to several years of research within the scientific field , trudging through diverse landscapes collaborating with scientists and institutions of scientific learning For more on the artists: http://www.hat.mmu.ac.uk/residencies/

The next lecture will be held on:

Date: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2006
Venue: BNU CITY CAMPUS, AUDITORIUM, BUILDING B
Please contact the school of visual arts for information.

The Alliance Francaise, Islamabad had approached the department of literatures and Languages, SLA with a scheme to introduce French online for all BNU students. This is an e-learning project being held under the auspices of the French Embassy in Pakistan which will also provide necessary financial backup and implemented by the Alliance Francaise, Islamabad. The offer was discussed and approved by the committee.

As a result of this approval, an agreement was signed between BNU , Lahore, represented by Ms. Naveed Shehzad, Dean of SLA and The Alliance Francaise d’ Islamabad, represented by Mr. Xavier Lagorce, Director on September 1st, 2006.

Methodology of French Online: French Online is an e-learning programme for beginners to learn French via the Internet. The students after registration are provided with a password. The students can then access a module on the website of French Online. This access s restricted according to levels (Beginners’ Level, Advanced Level) in which he/ she is enrolled. A custom designed e-learning allows the student to interact with his/ her tutor and colleagues through email, class forum and chat. Moreover, the student attends a weekly/ fortnightly workshop with the tutor to practice conversation and pronunciation. The workshop enables the student to practice writing skills and the accompanying CD enables him/ her to listen to and repeat the dialogues and the vocabulary offline.

Examination: All examination papers, quizzes, and assignments, will be prepared and evaluated under the supervision of the resource persons of Alliance Francaise, Islamaad in accordance with the requirements of Beaconhouse National University.

Certification: Certificates will be awardedto the successful students jointly by the Alliance Francaise, Islamaad and Beaconhouse National University

In a nut shell, BNU’s Gig night, sponsored by Levi’s was an absolute success. On Tuesday, April 18th 2006, the restless students clad in their funky garbs, gathered on campus anxiously, waiting for the show to begin. The show finally kicked off by satirical catwalk and then later, parodies by students. The musical performance by Haroon Shahid, an economics student, and the college band took the show to the next level and the crowd could hardly contain their excitement.

“Playing in front of such a lively audience was electrifying!”, exclaimed Syed Shaharyar Jabbar, the band’s vocalist as well as teacher at BNU. Some musical performances by talented BNU students had to be cancelled due to lack of time.

Finally the long worked-on “Graffiti Competition” at BNU came to an end, leaving the college washed with colors and creativity. The even was organized by Shaharyar Jabbar in collaboration with Levi’s. Over a dozen entries were received for the competition, out of which eight were short listed. There were three themes which the participants were supposed to base their creations on: Free to move”, “Steal the room”, and “Stay true”.

The winners were all students from SVA, who were awarded scholarships funds ranging from Rs. 1,20,000 to Rs. 30,000. The first prize went to Ahmad Azmee, Rony James Martin, Barun Gurung and Pradeep Kumar. Their entry depicted their own figures in fascinating stances with the “Free to move” theme. The second prize was well deserved by Zeest Malik, Haider Ali Jaan, Mehreen Murtaza, Hasan Latif and Faiza Liaquat whose graffiti centered a hippie theme featuring Jimi Hendrix with bold colors, staring “Steal the room” theme. Sara Suhail came third, with psychedelic overtones incorporated in her simple but eye catching piece.

According to Fatima Khalid, a student of SVA, who worked hard with Mr. Jabbar, in making this event a success as well as competing in it, “IT was the best experience I have ever had in BNU. IT was great fun, and we should have more events like this. Mr. Jabbar had promised more fun events in the future.

In the north the earthquakes have almost stopped, and the construction teams and NGO’s moved in to reconstruct a world on top of the one that came crashing down on Oct 8th. It has been six months since I last visited the fallen city of Balakot and the level of reconstruction I saw this time around surpassed my wildest expectations. Helicopters can be seen flying back and forth between their bases and drop off points, trucks carrying building materials and aid block traffic for miles. The smell of industry is in the air.

Many plans have been made to avoid future disasters and the relocation of Balakot is the biggest one yet. The tent city which was set up at the base of the old Balakot is wearing thin as the people head back to their respective land, on which they once had homes, hoping the government will live up to its promise.

Summer comes and with it come the tourists. This had happened for many years in the northern arrears of Pakistan and has been one of the most lucrative industries for the locals. The earthquake changes that too, but for the better. After the earthquake news crews, documentary film makers, and even major film studios have become fascinated with the events and the localities of the healing north. The mountains are still wounded with gashes caused by the earthquake but work is being done to restore normality.

The future for the once devastated arrears is looking up from the rubble it was left in six months ago. Things are moving forward at an unexpected fast pace and the government looks as if it will deliver what it promised. Or, at least some of what has been not only promised but desperately needed. The relocation of Balakot opens up a whole new chapter of frontier construction and if it all goes to plan we, in Pakistan, will have a modern village set to take on the twenty first century with a metaphorical bang.

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shauket Aziz, performed the foundation stone laying ceremnopy of the new campus of Beaconhouse National University, Lahore on August 27th, 2005, at Raiwind road. Addressing the ceremony he stressed on the importanbce of higher education and appreciated the fact that in a short span of two years BNU had already made its mark by the presence of students from all seven SAARC countries.

The Vice Chancellor, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, while welcoming the prime minister said that BNU is the first liberal arts university in Pakistan. Mr. Sartaj Aziz also disclosed future plans for BNU which included the establishment of a South Asian center for Art, Architecture, and Heritage in the School of Visual Arts and School of Architecture and Design. In the proposed center, students and participants from all the South Asian countries and Afghanistan would be able to interact with similar universities in other SAARC countires to hold art exhibition and seminars and have an exchange of students and faculty. He said that a plan to set up a research unit in the School of Social Sciences to undertake research on social issues ranging from the spread of violence and extremism to other such issues was also being planned.

The chairperson of BNU foundation, Ms. Nasreen Kasuri , extended a note of thanks to the prime minister and other distinguished guests.