Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC)
External Review for Institutional Performance Evaluation (RIPE-Self) 2024-25
May 20-22, 2025
The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) at Northern University, Nowshera successfully achieved a significant milestone by conducting a three-day external review of the Institutional Performance Evaluation (RIPE-Self) from May 20 to 22, 2025. This review marked an important step in assessing and advancing the overall quality of the university.
The evaluation was carried out under the supervision of the RIPE Committee, which included both internal and external members. The external reviewers — Mr. Ijaz Ahmad (Assistant Manager QEC, IM Sciences Peshawar) and Dr. Arif Hussain (Assistant Professor, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan) — provided invaluable expertise and constructive feedback. Their professional insights played a key role in reviewing the policies, practices, and processes of the QEC and Northern University.
The review brought together deans, directors, faculty members, administrative staff, and student representatives for meaningful engagement, offering a valuable platform to examine multiple dimensions of institutional performance and the quality of academic and postgraduate programs. The detailed analysis focused on ensuring alignment with national and international quality assurance benchmarks.
The QEC extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Honorable Chairman and Worthy Rector for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to quality assurance. Their forward-looking approach continues to shape a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across the university.
RIPE Standards (As per HEC Framework)
The RIPE Committee will review and evaluate institutional performance based on the following 16 standards:
- Vision, mission, goals and strategic planning
- Governance, leadership and organization
- Institutional resources and planning
- Audit and finance
- Affiliated colleges/institutions
- Internationalization of higher education and global engagement
- Faculty recruitment, development and support services
- Academic programs and curricula
- Admission, progression, assessment, and certification
- Student support services
- Impactful teaching, learning, and community engagement
- Research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial linkage
- Fairness and integrity
- Public information and transparency
- Institutional effectiveness, quality assurance and enhancement
- Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and cyclical external quality assurance
Self (GPR) -- Northern University Nowshera 2024--2025
May 23--24, 2025
Successful Postgraduate Program Review (PGPR) at Northern University, Nowshera! We were privileged to host esteemed external experts, Mr. Ijaz Ahmad (Assistant Manager QEC, IM Sciences Peshawar) and Dr. Arif Hussain (Assistant Professor, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan).
The review comprehensively evaluated both M.Phil and PhD programs, where the academic leadership, deans, directors, faculty, and administrative teams presented detailed evidence of quality standards, reflecting the university's strong commitment to academic excellence and quality assurance.
The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Honorable Chairman and Worthy Rector for their visionary leadership and continuous support, and to all support departments for their invaluable contributions in making this review a success.
RIPE Visit Photos
(Photos will be added here)
GPR Event Photos
(Add photo of the event)
Program Team Members
| Name | Department | Responsible for Writing SAR of the Degree Program |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Muhammad Athar | Computer Science | BS Computer Science |
| Mr. Tahir Javed | ||
| Mr. Abdul Rehman (Coordinator) | ||
| Mr. Mubashir Ahmad | Business Administration | BBA (Hons) |
| Mr. Fazal Hussain | ||
| Mr. Mubashir Ahmad | Business Administration | MS Business Administration |
| Mr. Fazal Hussain | ||
| Dr. Rabia Tabassum | Education | M.Phil. Education |
| Dr. Sajid Rehman | ||
| Dr. Rabia Tabassum | Education | Ph.D. Education |
| Dr. Sajid Rehman | ||
| Mr. Saeed ur Rahman | English | BS English |
| Mr. Aamir Saeed | ||
| Mr. Maratab Ali | English | M.Phil. English |
| Mr. Khalid Zaman | ||
| Dr. Syed Tahir Ali Shah | Urdu | M.Phil. Urdu |
| Dr. Syed Nazar Abid | ||
| Dr. Syed Tahir Ali Shah | Urdu | Ph.D. Urdu |
| Dr. Syed Nazar Abid | ||
| Dr. Khurram Javed | Mathematics | M.Phil. Mathematics |
| Mr. Fiaz Ur Rehman | ||
| Mr. Sana Ullah | BS Radiology | BS Radiology |
| Ms. Mehik Ikram | ||
| Mr. Abdul Majeed | ||
| Mr. Sana Ullah | BS MLT | BS MLT |
| Ms. Mehik Ikram | ||
| Mr. Abdul Majeed | ||
| Mr. Sana Ullah | BS Anesthesia Technology | BS Anesthesia Technology |
| Ms. Mehik Ikram | ||
| Mr. Abdul Majeed | ||
| Mr. Sana Ullah | BS Surgical Technology | BS Surgical Technology |
| Ms. Mehik Ikram | ||
| Mr. Abdul Majeed |
AT Team Members
Department of Computer Science
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Mr. Muhammad Akhtar | Head, AT |
| Dr. Mohsin Raza | Member, AT |
| Dr. Shoaib Munawar | Member, AT |
| Dr. Syed Tahir Ali Shah | Registrar |
| Mr. Mubashir Ahmad | Director QEC |
Department of Business Administration
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr. Mohsin Raza | Head, AT |
| Dr. Shehzad Hameed | Member, AT |
| Dr. Syed Tahir Ali Shah | Registrar |
| Dr. Nazar Muhammad Abid | Member, AT |
| Mr. Mubashir Ahmad | Director QEC |
Department of Mathematics
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr. Mohsin Raza | Head, AT |
| Mr. Muhammad Akhtar | Member, AT |
| Dr. Shoaib Munawar | Member, AT |
| Dr. Syed Tahir Ali Shah | Registrar |
| Mr. Mubashir Ahmad | Director QEC |
Department of English
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr. Sadaf Munir | Head, AT |
| Dr. Nazar Muhammad Abid | Member, AT |
| Dr. Khurram Javid | Member, AT |
| Dr. Syed Tahir Ali Shah | Registrar |
| Mr. Mubashir Ahmad | Director QEC |
| Mr. Maratab Ali | Member, AT |
Introduction
The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) at Northern University, Nowshera (NU) is dedicated to advancing academic excellence through a systematic approach to quality assurance. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, QEC ensures that NU’s academic standards meet both national and international benchmarks, en enhancing the learning experience and institutional effectiveness. QEC serves as a critical component of the university’s academic framework and works collaboratively with stakeholders to strengthen internal quality mechanisms, improve educational outcomes, and promote innovative teaching and research practices.
Vision
To achieve academic excellence by adopting best practices for systematic quality enhancement in
higher
education.
Mission
The mission of QEC is to focus on improving academic standards by implementing self-regulatory
quality
enhancement procedures, ensuring continuous improvement, and aligning with national and
international
standards.
Aims
-
Teacher Empowerment
Capacity building for faculty members.
-
Student Centricity
Ensuring that student needs are at the heart of educational processes.
-
Programmatic Improvements
Enhancing academic programs to meet industry and research standards.
-
Faculty Development & Capacity Building
Continuous faculty development programs to ensure high-quality teaching.
-
Student Counseling
Providing support services for academic and career growth.
-
PEOs Definition
Involving stakeholders in defining Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) for academic programs.
Leadership and Key Members
-
Dr. Mubashir Ahmad – Director, QEC
Dr. Mubashir Ahmad oversees the strategic direction of QEC, ensuring the implementation of quality assurance initiatives and fostering academic excellence at NU.
-
Mr. Muhammad Ihsan – Deputy Director, QEC
Mr. Muhammad Ihsan supports the strategic planning and operational execution, ensuring that QEC initiatives align with the university's institutional goals.
-
Mr.Anees Khan – Assistant Director, QEC
Mr.Anees plays a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of QEC policies and processes, ensuring the maintenance of quality standards across academic and administrative areas.
QEC Secretariat
The QEC Secretariat manages the operational tasks:
-
Policy implementation
-
Communication within the university
-
External quality assurance bodies
QEC Publications
Newsletters
QEC publishes regular newsletters to highlight its activities, achievements, and updates.
Accreditation & Ranking
Northern University has been granted accreditation by the following institutions, ensuring high academic standards and recognition.
Internal Quality Committee (IQC) Members
The Internal Quality Committee (IQC) comprises senior faculty and administrative members who work collaboratively to monitor progress, provide recommendations, and drive continuous improvement in quality assurance processes.
NU IQC Members List
| 1 | Rector, Northern University (Ex-Officio) | Chairperson of IQC |
| 2 | Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Northern University | Member/ Facilitator |
| 3 | One Member of board of Trustees | Member |
| 4 | Heads of All Departments (Ex-Officio) | Member |
| 5 | Two Student Council Representatives (As per notified by the Registrar Office) | Member |
| 6 | Director QEC, Northern University (Ex-Officio) | Member |
| 7 | Pro- Rector, Northern University | Member |
QEC Activities Calendar (2024–2025)
| SNo# | Activities | Month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collection and consolidation of data for YPR 2023-24 | July 2024 |
| 2 | BASR meeting (third week of July) | July 2024 |
| 3 | Submission of YPR 2023-24 to HEC | August 2024 |
| 4 | Participation in THE Impact Ranking submissions | August 2024 |
| 5 | Data collection for PQR | September 2024 |
| 6 | Feedback collection from students and faculty for SAR | September 2024 |
| 7 | Workshop: "Enhance Academic Quality through SAR Writing" | October 2024 |
| 8 | Submission of Green Metrics data | October 2024 |
| 9 | BOF meeting (third week of October) | October 2024 |
| 10 | Consolidation of PGPR corrective actions | November 2024 |
| 11 | BASR meeting (third week of November) | November 2024 |
| 12 | RIPE visit (9-11 Dec 2024) | December 2024 |
| 13 | Academic Council meeting (fourth week of December) | December 2024 |
| 14 | Workshop on RIPE preparation | January 2025 |
| 15 | BOF meeting (first week of January) | January 2025 |
| 16 | Collection of data for institutional review (RIPE 2024-25) | February 2025 |
| 17 | Convocation (tentative) | March 2025 |
| 18 | BASR meeting (third week of March) | March 2025 |
| 19 | Submission of HEC ranking data | April 2025 |
| 20 | Academic Council meeting (fourth week of April) | April 2025 |
| 21 | Preparation of consolidated data for final RIPE submission | May 2025 |
| 22 | BOF meeting (first week of June) | June 2025 |
QEC Download
Forms
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Exit Surveys for various disciplines (Engineering, Management Sciences, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, Biosciences)
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Feedback Forms (Alumni, Employer, Faculty Satisfaction, Research Student Feedback)
Reports
Comprehensive Institutional Performance (CIP) reports
QEC Objectives
Promoting Academic Excellence
QEC ensures the systematic review and enhancement of programs to improve teaching, learning, and research outcomes.
Fostering Stakeholder Confidence
The establishment of transparent and effective quality assurance mechanisms that align with national standards, ensuring trust among all stakeholders.
Encouraging Continuous Improvement
Regular self-assessment processes, feedback, and corrective actions to enhance academic and administrative functions.
Key Policies
QEC adheres to a range of policies designed to uphold academic and administrative quality:
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Faculty Handbook (2019)
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Quality Assurance Policy
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Anti-Harassment Policy at Workplace
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Lab Safety Policy
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Admission and Fee Refund Policies
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Grading Policies for Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
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Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Policy
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Policy on Banning Drug and Tobacco Use on Campus
Contact QEC
Director QEC: Dr. Mubashir Ahmad
Deputy Director QEC: Mr. Muhammad Ihsan
Assistant Director QEC: Anees Khan
Email: qec@northern.edu.pk
Phone: 092-616000
For further information or participation in QEC initiatives, please contact the QEC Secretariat via the university's official website or email.
