PESHAWAR: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar has completed a landmark year of progress and innovation under leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Sadiq Khattak.
Over the past year, the university has carried out major reforms and made notable advancements in governance, academics, research, and industry collaboration, positioning UET Peshawar as a forward-looking institution both in Pakistan and internationally.
Since assuming office, Prof Dr Khattak has led efforts to modernise the university and promote transparency. Key initiatives include introduction of digital systems such as Higher Education Commission’s ERP, Student Lifecycle Management System (SLCM), and a university-wide e-office platform, enabling paperless, efficient administration and improved student services.
In an interview, Prof Dr Khattak said UET Peshawar strengthened its outreach this year by signing more than 100 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with well-known national and international organisations for research, scholarships, internships, and stronger industry engagement for both students and faculty.
Highlighting success of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Job Fair 2025, he said it connected more than 5,800 graduates with 169 leading companies. As a result, 313 jobs were secured and more than 400 internships were offered to final-year students.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce also announced Rs20 million for commercialisation of products. This achievement makes it one of the largest academia-industry linkage events in the region, and has been widely recognised for improving graduate employability and strengthening ties between academia and industry.
On the research front, UET Peshawar hosted several major international conferences, including ICET 2025, ICCIIoT 2026, and SPI 2026, attracting global experts and showcasing advancements in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, climate resilience, and emerging technologies.
The establishment of China-Pakistan Smart Disaster Joint Lab has further strengthened university’s international academic presence. The Vice Chancellor said capacity-building remained a key priority, with more than 25 specialised training programmes conducted for students, faculty, and government officials. A flagship initiative was a 70-day mandatory training programme organised in collaboration with Provincial Services Academy (PSA) for senior executives and engineers from Communication and Works Department.
This programme has now been institutionalised under provincial framework, with mid-career management courses set to become mandatory and regularly offered at UET Peshawar in partnership with PSA.
A large-scale STEAM training programme was conducted for over 2,000 college faculty members in collaboration with Higher Education Department. A series of technical training workshops on emerging topics such as Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and energy efficiency were also organised, enhancing participants’ professional skills and technical knowledge.
Dr Sadiq added, in collaboration with Higher Education Department, a major STEAM training programme was successfully delivered to over 2,000 college teachers. Several technical seminars on emerging topics, including Internet of Things, were also held.
To equip young graduates with in-demand skills, a NAVTTC Facilitation Office has been established at ORIC. This centre will serve as a hub for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, strengthening collaboration with NAVTTC and industry partners.“It will offer market-driven, certified courses designed to meet current industry needs and improve graduate employability”, he said.
He said infrastructure development was also prioritised, including major renovations of girls’, staff, and tribal hostels, along with establishment of modern facilities such as Human Factors Lab and Centre of Excellence for STEAM Education.
He noted international engagement has also increased, as UET Peshawar supported Afghan and other international students through scholarships and digital access initiatives, while also building new partnerships with global academic and diplomatic institutions.
Prof Dr Sadiq Khattak was elected Chairman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Vice Chancellors Forum and nominated to Governing Body of Pakistan Engineering Council, highlighting his growing role in shaping higher education policy at the national level.
