Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology
{{Short description|Public university in Haripur, Pakistan}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology
| type = Public
| established = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|09|17}}
| affiliation = HEC{{Cite web |date=12 July 2024 |title=Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur |url=https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/universities/Pages/KPK/PAF-IAST.aspx |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=Higher Education Commission}}
| academic_affiliation =
| chairman = Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
| rector = Mohammad Mujahid
| dean = Arshad Hussain
| location = Haripur, Pakistan
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|54|31.34|N|72|55|3.26|E|display=inline|type:edu}}
| campus_type = Rural
| website = http://www.paf-iast.edu.pk
}}
Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (abbreviated as PAF IAST) is a public science and technology university located in Mang, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The institute focuses on artificial intelligence, railway engineering, nanotechnology, mineral resources and agricultural technologies.{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=Our |date=2020-09-17 |title=Recovered graft money to be spent on education: PM |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264449/recovered-graft-money-to-be-spent-on-education-pm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} It is the first foreign engineering university in Pakistan and is located about 40 miles from the capital of the country, Islamabad.{{Cite web |title=A visionary project |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/722202-a-visionary-project |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-19 |title=Science and technology in Pakistan |url=https://muso.ie/pics/science-and-technology-in-pakistan/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Muso |language=en-US}}
History
In 2005, Atta-ur-Rahman, who was the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (Pakistan) at the time, presented and secured approval of a Rs250 billion project to establish seven universities centred around Engineering, Science and Technology in collaboration with China and several European countries. These universities were intended to improve the Higher Education sector in Pakistan so as to enable its young population to take part in the global technology sector.
The Chairman was able to enlist the support of two Austrian scholars (Bernd Michael Rode and A Min Tjoa) through his personal contacts, who played a crucial role in the collaboration between the two countries and the establishment of the institute.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://paf-iast.edu.pk/history/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=PAF IAST |language=en-US}} Three Austrian and five Chinese universities are part of the collaboration.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-17 |title=Prime Minister Imran Khan launches Pakistan-Austria institute to promote science and technology education |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/prime-minister-imran-khan-launches-pakistan-austria-institute-to-promote-science-and-technology-education-1.73932714 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}
The foundation stone of the institute was laid on 7 May 2016, by the then Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak.{{Cite web |last=Rasheed |first=Mohsin |date=2017-02-01 |title=25 Doctoral Candidates of Pak-Austria Institute Selected For Two-Years Training in Austria |url=https://pakwired.com/25-doctoral-candidates-pak-austria-institute-selected-two-years-training-austria/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=PakWired |language=en-US}}
The institute was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan on 17 September 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-17 |title=PM Imran inaugurates Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute in Haripur |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/17-Sep-2020/pm-imran-inaugurates-pak-austria-fachhochschule-institute-of-applied-sciences-and-technology-in-haripur |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Daily Pakistan Global |language=en}}
Campus
The university is located in a rural, mountainous area and has a naturally formed lake in the middle of campus.{{Cite web |title=Our Green Campus |url=https://paf-iast.edu.pk/ourgreencampus/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=PAF IAST |language=en-US}}
The university has on-campus Wi-Fi, labs, auditoriums, a standard library with cubicles for group discussions and hostels for residential students. For sports and recreation, there are jogging tracks, two grounds for football and cricket, along with badminton and volleyball courts.{{Cite web |title=Facilities |url=https://paf-iast.edu.pk/campus-life/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=PAF IAST |language=en-US}}
Collaborations
In late 2020 a memorandum of understanding was established between Peshawar Zalmi Foundation and PAF-IAST for skill development and training.{{Cite web |last=Hussainy |first=Faizanullah |date=2020-11-24 |title=MoU signed between Zalmi Foundation and Pak Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology |url=https://enews.hamariweb.com/sports/cricket/mou-signed-between-zalmi-foundation-and-pak-austria-fachhochschule-institute-of-applied-sciences-and-technology/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Hamariweb |language=en-US}}
In 2023, the institute and Chengdu University in China launched a joint Mechanical Engineering Technology programme, two years will be spent at the institute in Pakistan and two years will be spent at Chengdu University.{{Cite news |date=August 2023 |title=PAF-IAST and Chinese University to jointly launch BSc technology program |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/08/23/paf-iast-and-chinese-university-to-jointly-launch-bsc-technology-program/ |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=PakistanToday}}
In 2024, a higher education delegation from the United Kingdom visited PAF-IAST for the formation of an international collaboration to "enrich academic experiences and drive innovation in both nations".{{Cite web |title=Higher education team explores transnational collaboration |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1183057-higher-education-team-explores-transnational-collaboration |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}