Government College University, Lahore

The Government College University (colloquially known as GCU; Punjabi, Urdu: گورنمنٹ کالج یونیورسٹی), is a public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. GCU is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in Pakistan. Founded as Government College, Lahore, in 1864 under British administration, it became a university in 2002.

For other uses, see Government College University.

Government College University
Other name
GCU
Former names
Government College (GC)
Motto
  • Educating People for tomorrow (historical)
  • Courage to Know (present)
TypePublic
Established1864 (1864)
Accreditation
ChancellorGovernor of the Punjab
Vice-ChancellorAsghar Zaidi[1]
Academic staff
454[2]
Administrative staff
103[2]
Students10,662[2]
Undergraduates5,831[2]
Postgraduates1,712[2]
520[2]
Other students
Intermediate, Certifications[2]
Location
Lahore
,
Punjab
,
Pakistan

31.5732°N 74.3079°E / 31.5732; 74.3079
CampusUrban
Colours    Royal blue, goldenrod, maroon
Websitegcu.edu.pk

Overview
Dr. Asghar Zaidi VC GCU

In 1864, Government College was established by the British government in India.[3][4] After being elevated to university status in 2002, it has becomes one the ten largest educational institutions in Pakistan, with a student body of over 12,000. It has 32 academic departments, segregated into five faculties. There are five research centers, focused on academic and industrial research and development projects. The university secured the second place in the general category by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in 2013.[5] It has the highest graduation rate in the country, with an average of 94.6% annually.[6][7] In Government College University, the medium of instruction is English.

Government College University is noted for its historical roots and produced notable scholars such as poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Nobel laureates Har Gobind Khorana and Abdus Salam, former president of both the United Nations General Assembly and the International Court of Justice Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, scholar and novelist couple Bano Qudsia and Ashfaq Ahmed. Among its graduates are also four prime ministers and one caretaker prime minister of Pakistan.

History
Government College, Lahore circa 1880

Originally, the establishment of a central college in Lahore was sanctioned in 1856 by the British Raj, given that the teachers were from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Dublin University HC or Durham University. Under the leadership of Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, a professor of Arabic and Islamic Law at King's College London, the college was established on 1 January 1864, located in the Palace of Raja Dhyan Singh Haveli (Dogra prime minister of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore) inside Walled City of Lahore, as an affiliated college of Calcutta University.

In April 1871, the college moved to a large Bungalow near Anarkali Bazaar. In 1873, its location was again changed to another house called Rahim Khan's Kothi due to rapidly increasing student strength. It moved to its present building in 1876.

The first principal was Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, whose name is closely attached to the college. In 1882, Leitner was very instrumental in laying the foundation of Punjab University, Lahore. Thereafter, the college would remain affiliated with Punjab University for 115 years. In 1997, government of the Punjab gave Government College autonomy in all affairs and granted degree awarding status.[3]

In 2002, it was promoted to university status by the government of Punjab; the word college was retained in its title for preserving its historical roots.[8]

Main Building, GCU

Campus
GCU's Iconic tower

Old Campus

Positioned in Downtown Lahore, it is located at the junction of The Mall, Lahore and the Lower Mall, surrounded by main business and administrative areas, schools, colleges and Punjab University old Campus. The main building was designed by W. Purdon and completed in 1877 at a cost of Rs. 320,000. In the centre of the main building stands a 176' tall clock tower. Built during the colonial era, the main building reflects the neo-Gothic tradition, with broad verandahs and elevated ceilings. A large ground accompanies the main building, alluded to as the "Oval Ground". In 2019, the ground was renamed "The Leitner Oval", in honour of Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, the first principal of the institute.[9] To meet the needs of an increasing number of students, several buildings and blocks have been commissioned which include a postgraduate block, a new block for intermediate students and a bachelors' block which is accessible by an overhead bridge. The main campus is spread over 56 acres along the Anarkali Bazaar, one of the oldest surviving markets in Lahore.[10]

Kala Shah Kaku Campus

On 24 August 2019, the Kala Shah Kaku campus of the university was inaugurated which is known as GCU KSK campus. The campus is spread over 370 acres, able to house 25,000 students, 1,250 teachers and 650 staff members. 22 hostels are available for accommodation.[11]

On 24 September 2020, the new campus was formally opened to students. A bus shuttle service will operate between both campuses.[12]

Emblem
Annual Dinner at GCU

The torch, as the crest of the university emblem, represents the light of knowledge. The motto "Courage to Know" represents the guiding principle of the student community.[13]

Academics

Programs

The university offers degrees in Higher Secondary School Certificate (locally referred to as Intermediate), undergraduate and post-graduate studies. In the higher education level, it offers 28 bachelor's degrees, 28 MS/MPhil Degrees and 19 PhD degrees. These degrees are offered under the following faculties:

  • Faculty of Chemistry and Life Sciences[14]
  • Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences[15]
  • Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences[16]
  • Faculty of Language, Islamic & Oriental Learning[17]
  • Faculty of Engineering[18]

Research

The university has always been a research-led university, however, in recent times, it has shifted its focus towards quality output projects, which the university believes to be beneficial academically and industrially. Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) has been set up to manage all research issues. The objective of the office is to advance, diversify and manage all research programs and to uphold international standards of research.[19]

It receives research grants mostly from foreign universities like Strathclyde University, Cranfield University, World Bank Researchers Alliance for Development and British Council and from national institutes and organizations like Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), PTCL, Higher Education Commission and Ministry of Science and Technology.[20]

Institutes

The university has five autonomous/semi-autonomous, research-oriented institutes, focused on academic and industrial research and development projects. These institutes are:

Abdus Salam School for Mathematical Sciences
Main article: Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences

The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) is one of the largest mathematical research institutes in Pakistan.[22] The school was established in 2003 by Government of Punjab under the aegis of Government College University.[23] The aim of the school is to train professional scientists to pursue the study of scientific and technological problems by mathematical methods and to undertake research in branches of mathematical sciences. Before the existence of the school, Pakistani mathematicians opted to study abroad for postdoctoral fellowships; but after ASSMS was established, an increasing number of PhD holders from foreign institutions are choosing this school to pursue their postdoctoral fellowships.[22]

In 2011, it was labeled as the first "Emerging Regional Center of Excellence" by the European Mathematical Society (EMS) for the period 2011 to 2015.[24]

It has taken steps to provide encouragement to Pakistani students in schools and colleges. These include:

Chairs

Abdus Salam Chair in Physics
Main article: Abdus Salam Chair in Physics

The Abdus Salam Chair in Physics, named after the Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Abdus Salam is an honorary chair in physics at the university. Starting out as a semi-autonomous institute, it became operational in March 2000 with the efforts of Ishfaq Ahmad, a lifelong friend of Salam. In 2009, the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) donated Salam's original Nobel certificate to the Salam Chair in Physics. The former director of ICTP Dr. Katepalli R. Sreenivasan visited Lahore where he gifted the original Nobel certificate to the university's alma mater. The certificate reads: "for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter-alia, the prediction of the weak neutral current".[30]

It has been integrated into Department of Physics, where MPhil and PhD students carry out their research work.[31] Some of its achievements include: getting 52 research publications in international journals;[32] producing 6 PhD and 25 MPhil theses; setting up a Plasma Technology Lab; and contracting research grants from funding agencies and research centers such as the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL),[33] Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF)[34] and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).[32]

Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry Chair in Experimental Physics

The Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry Chair in Experimental Physics was named after Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry, a renowned Pakistani nuclear physicist and a professor of particle physics at the university. He is widely regarded as having been the pioneer of experimental nuclear physics research in Pakistan.[35] During his tenure as a professor at the university, he set up High Tension Laboratory there in 1952 (now amalgamated into Center for Advanced Studies in Physics CASP) where research anent to gaseous discharges, ion, and electron impact phenomena, nuclear physics, radioactivity, and cosmic rays is carried out.

The university set up the chair in recognition of his services to Pakistan and to Physics. Currently, post-graduate research work in Applied Physics is carried out here.[36]

Mahboob-ul-Haq Chair in Economics

The Mahboob-ul-Haq Chair in Economics is the latest addition to honorary chairs at the university, named after Mahbub ul Haq, a Pakistani economist, politician and international development theorist who served as the 13th Finance Minister of Pakistan.[37] While serving as the Special Advisor to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), he led the establishment of the Human Development Report (HDI) and the widely respected Human Development Index (HDI).[38] The Economist called him "one of the visionaries of international development."[39]

The university established the chair to recognize his services to Pakistan, its people, and above all to the discipline of Economics.[40] Apart from post-graduate research in Economics, the chair is also in charge of publishing GCU Economics Journal an annual scholarly and peer-audited publication. Its intent is to act as a platform for researchers, professionals, and students to share their achievements, perspectives, and practical experiences.[41]

Other Chairs

The following chairs have been announced and will be put into effect in near future.

The following six chairs have been established at the respective departments:

Accommodation

The university has four hostels – three for boys and one for girls. Iqbal Hostel (built-in 1891) and Quaid-e-Azam Hostel (built-in 1993) accommodate about 150 and 200 Intermediate students, respectively. The New Hostel (built-in 1937) houses about 400 Degree students. Girls Hostel (built-in 1975) accommodates about 50 girl students. A Faculty Mess has been built for visiting family members, faculty and officers of the other universities. Lodging and messing facilities are available here.[43]

Notable alumni
Main article: List of Ravians

Alumni of the institute are called Ravians, which is a derived word from the name of the student magazine "Ravi", published by the administration of the college; the magazine name itself is inspired by the Ravi River that passes through Lahore.[44]

  • GCU, as seen from outside
    GCU, as seen from outside
  • GCU's tower
    GCU's tower
  • British style architecture of GCU
    British style architecture of GCU
  • GCU's overhead bridge, connecting Main Building with Bachelors' Block
    GCU's overhead bridge, connecting Main Building with Bachelors' Block
  • GCU Old Building of Languages
    GCU Old Building of Languages
  • GCU courtyard
    GCU courtyard
  • GCU's amphitheatre after rain
    GCU's amphitheatre after rain
  • Overview to Bokhari Auditorium, GCU's general auditorium, named after Patras Bokhari
    Overview to Bokhari Auditorium, GCU's general auditorium, named after Patras Bokhari
  • GCU's Tower Door, representing English church architecture
    GCU's Tower Door, representing English church architecture

See also

References
  1. "Vice Chancellor's Welcome Note".
  2. "About – GC University, Lahore". Government College University, Lahore. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. "About – GC University, Lahore". gcu.edu.pk. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  4. Bangash, Yaqoob Khan; Virdee, Pippa (October 2022). "Partitioning the University of the Panjab, 1947". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 59 (4): 423–445. doi:10.1177/00194646221130414. hdl:2086/22269. ISSN 0019-4646. S2CID 253263019.
  5. "HEC rankings". Higher Education Commission, Pakistan. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  6. "Graduation at GCU". GC University, Lahore. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  7. "GCU among top 10 universities of Pakistan". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  8. "The Government College University, Lahore Ordinance, 2002". punjablaws.gov.pk. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  9. "GCU Oval ground named after Dr. Leitner". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  10. "Historical Background". gcu.edu.pk. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  11. "GCU KSK Campus Opened For Academic Activities". The Academia. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  12. "GCU KSK campus becomes operational". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  13. "GCU Emblem". www.gcu.edu.pk. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  14. "Faculty of Chemistry and Life Sciences". GC University, Lahore.
  15. "Mathematical and Physical Sciences". GC University, Lahore. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  16. "Arts & Social Sciences". GC University, Lahore.
  17. "Languages, Islamic & Oriental Learning". GC University, Lahore.
  18. "Faculty of Engineering". GC University, Lahore.
  19. "Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) – GC University, Lahore". Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. "GCU Research Publications". www.gcu.edu.pk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  21. "GCU Academic Departments". www.gcu.edu.pk. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  22. "A Report on ASSMS" (PDF). Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences, Lahore. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  23. "ASSMS – GC University, Lahore". Government College University, Lahore.
  24. "Emerging Regional Center of Excellence". European Mathematical Society. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  25. "Foreign Faculty Hiring Program: ASSMS". Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  26. "Josip Pecaric's activities in Pakistan". Croatian World Network. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  27. "4th World Conference in 21st Century Mathematics". Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences. Archived from the original on 7 November 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  28. "5th World Conference in 21st Century Mathematics". Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  29. "6th World Conference in 21st Century Mathematics". Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  30. GCU houses Dr. Abdus Salam’s Nobel prize Archived 22 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  31. "Facilities, Dept. of Physics". www.gcu.edu.pk. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  32. ".:.GC University Lahore". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  33. "Research Fellowships Awarded". Government College University, Lahore. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  34. "Research Grants Awarded". Government College University, Lahore. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  35. Haq, Prof. M. Ikramul (27 January 2004). "Remembering Dr Rafi Chaudhry". Dawn newspaper. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  36. "Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry Chair in Experimental Physics". www.gcu.edu.pk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  37. "Mahbub ul Haq". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  38. "Human Development | The Reports | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Program (UNDP)". 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  39. "Mahbub ul Haq". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  40. "Mahboob-ul-Haq Chair in Economics". www.gcu.edu.pk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  41. "Publications: GCU Economic Journal". www.gcu.edu.pk. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  42. "Chairs at GCU". www.gcu.edu.pk. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  43. "Accommodation at GCU". www.gcu.edu.pk. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  44. GCU. "Old Ravian Union". Old Ravian Union. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  45. Chandra, Bipan (1989). India's Struggle for Independence. New Delhi: Penguin Books India. pp. 144–145. ISBN 978-0-14-010781-4.
  46. Nehru, Jawaharlal; Nand Lal Gupta (2006). Jawaharlal Nehru on Communalism. Hope India Publications. p. 161. ISBN 978-81-7871-117-1.
  47. "Madan Lal Dhingra". The Open University. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  48. Godbole, Dr Shreerang. "Madan Lal Dhingra: A lion hearted National hero". Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  49. Bandhu, Vishav (19 January 2021). The Life And Times Of Madan Lal Dhingra. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 9788184302295.
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