Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC)
- Introduction
- Mission and Vision
- QEC Objectives & Key Policies
- IQC Members
- QEC Structure
- QEC Secretariat & Publications
- QEC Activities Calendar
- RIPE & SPGR
- Self Assessment process
- Accreditation & Ranking
- QEC Capacity Building
- Contact QEC
- QEC Downloads
QEC Capacity Building
Participation in HEC Deliberative Session on Higher Education Statistics (HES)
📅 Date: 18 November 2025
📍 Location: HEC Regional Center, Hayatabad Peshawar
I am pleased to share that Northern University Nowshera has been officially included among the Higher Education Institutions invited to the Deliberative Session on Higher Education Statistics (FY 2023–24 & 2024–25) organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
This important session brings together nominated focal persons from universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to discuss, review, and strengthen data management and reporting mechanisms for HES.
Our participation reflects our commitment to quality assurance, institutional transparency, and continuous improvement in higher education.
Looking forward to a productive session and meaningful outcomes for strengthening the quality framework. 🌟📊🎓
Dr. Mubashir Ahmad
Director QEC
Northern University Nowshera
Northern University Nowshera Participates in WRAP Consortium Meeting on Climate-Resilient Water Governance
📅 Date: 25 November 2025
📍 Venue: Video Conference Room, Old Academic Block, UET Mardan
🏢 Organized by: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with UK International Development
Meeting Overview
The meeting brought together academic leaders, researchers, and policy experts to discuss progress under the WRAP Programme and explore future pathways for enhanced water governance, climate resilience, and research collaboration across Pakistan.
Participants engaged in:
- Presentations on ongoing institutional research initiatives
- Discussions on water, environment, and food security challenges
- Exploration of collaborative research synergies among universities
- A guided visit to UET Mardan's research facilities
Representation from Northern University Nowshera
Dr. Mubashir Ahmad represented the University and highlighted its commitment to:
- Advancing research on water governance and sustainable development
- Strengthening academic and technical collaboration with national and international partners
- Contributing to evidence-based policy development for climate resilience
Acknowledgment
Northern University Nowshera extends sincere appreciation to IWMI, UK International Development, and UET Mardan for inviting the University to this important forum and for fostering a collaborative environment that supports impactful research and innovation.
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 ACTIVITY CALENDAR 2025-26
| Month | Activity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| July-2025 |
• Implementation Plans and Executive Summaries of SARs (2024-25) • Self-RIPE Activity for 2025-26 |
Implementation Plans and Executive Summaries of all SARs |
| August-2025 |
• Yearly Progress Report (YPR) 2024-25 • Higher Education Statistics (HES) for the years 2023-24 and 2024-25 |
• YPR Submitted • HES Submitted |
| September-2025 |
• 2nd IQC Meeting for the year 2025-26 • Initiate Student Council for Academic Learning & Enhancement (SCALE) formation and selection • Initiation of Self Program Review for Effectiveness & Enhancement (PREE 2025-26) of all Programs • Initiation of Self-GPR based on PREE Standards (2025-26) of selected graduate programs |
Send emails to Heads of Departments (Focal Persons for QEC) to Initiate SCALE |
| October-2025 |
• Training for Program Teams for Self-PREE • Initiation of preparation of updated Institutional Performance Enhancement Report (IPER) as per PSG-2023 • Initiation of Accreditation of all programs those have concile |
• Arrange Trainer for Self-PREE • IPR committees to update and follow-up committee to follow-up the updated IPER |
| November-2025 |
• Orientation session on HEC Anti-Plagiarism Policy for Faculty Members • Preparation of Accreditation application of BS Programs |
Arrange trainer for orientation on HEC Anti-Plagiarism Policy |
| December-2025 |
• 2nd IQC Meeting for the year 2025-26 • Submission of Accreditation application of BS programs • Initiation of QEC SET Survey for Fall-2025 Semester • Orientation session of GEP-2023 for Program Directors • PREE-SAR submission • Submission of Self-GPR based on PREE Standards (2025-26) of selected graduate programs |
• Agenda preparation for 2nd IQC Meeting 2025-26 • Arrange trainer for orientation on GEP-2023 |
| January-2026 |
• Orientation session on HR Rules for Staff & Faculty Members • Visit for Accreditation of BS Programs • Student Exit Survey for spring graduating batches |
• Arrange trainer for orientation on HR Rules for Staff & Faculty Members • Visit Preparations |
| February-2026 |
• Assessment Team Visit - PREE-BS programs • Assessment Team Visits of Self-GPR based on PREE Standards (2025-26) of selected graduate programs • Submission of updated IPER by the IPR Committees |
• Desk review of updated IPER • Arrangements for Assessment Team Visits |
| March-2026 |
• 3rd IQC Meeting for the year 2025-26 • Corrective Action Reports of all SARs during 2024-25 • Assessment Team Visits of Self-GPR based on PREE Standards (2025-26) of selected graduate programs |
• Agenda preparation for 3rd IQC Meeting 2025-26 • Arrangements for Assessment Team Visits |
| April-2026 |
• Orientation session on PSG-2023 for Departement Heads & Program Directors • Assessment Team Visits of Self-GPR based on PREE Standards (2025-26) of selected graduate programs • Implementation Plan and Executive Summary of PREE BS MS phd programs |
• Arrange trainer for orientation session on PSG-2023 • Arrangements for Assessment Team Visits |
| May-2026 |
• Preparation of Corrective Action Report against Implementation Plan of Self-RIPE (2024-25) • Preparation of Corrective Action Report against Implementation Plan of SARs based on PREE (2024-25) • Preparation of Corrective Action Report against Implementation Plan of Self-GPR (2024-25) |
Follow-up and meetings with relevant stakeholders |
| June-2026 |
• 4th IQC Meeting for the year 2025-26 • Initiation of QEC SET Survey for Spring-2025 Semester • Student Exit Survey for Fall graduating batches • YPR (2025-26) Preparation |
Agenda preparation for 4th IQC Meeting 2025-26 |
| August-2025-2026 to November |
• HES and Ranking Ranking prepraation and • QS Ranking\ Green Metrics\ Reputation Ranking\ WURI Ranking\ Impact Ranking\ (PNQAHE) (Renewal for the year 2026) |
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.
