Message From Directorate of Advanced Studies and Research

Welcome to the Directorate of Advanced Studies and Research (DASR).

The Directorate serves as the central body responsible for overseeing postgraduate education (Level 7 & 8) within the University. As the Secretariat of the Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR), DASR is entrusted with ensuring that all postgraduate degree programs, research processes, and academic procedures are conducted in accordance with the University's regulations and the guidelines prescribed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.

Our primary objective is to maintain the quality, integrity, transparency, and consistency of postgraduate studies. The Directorate monitors all stages of the research process, including approval of research proposals, supervision arrangements, progress monitoring, thesis evaluation, and conduct of defenses, while ensuring compliance with established academic and ethical standards.

We work closely with academic departments, supervisors, and research scholars to ensure that postgraduate programs are administered efficiently and that all statutory and regulatory requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner. Through effective coordination and oversight, the Directorate seeks to facilitate smooth academic processes and uphold the credibility of postgraduate degrees awarded by the University.

I encourage all the enrolled scholars, supervisors, and academic administrators to familiarize themselves with the relevant regulations, policies, and procedures available through the Directorate and to contribute towards maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence and research integrity.

We remain committed to providing professional support, ensuring procedural transparency, and safeguarding the quality of postgraduate education and research across the University.

Overview

The Directorate of Advanced Studies and Research (DASR) is the University's central administrative and coordinating body responsible for overseeing postgraduate studies and research activities. Established in accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, the Directorate ensures that all postgraduate degree programs and research processes are conducted in compliance with the University's statutes, regulations, policies, and prescribed quality standards.

The Directorate functions as the Secretariat of the Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR) and provides administrative support for the implementation of the Board's decisions concerning postgraduate education and research. It serves as a focal point for matters relating to MPhil/MS and PhD programs, ensuring uniformity, transparency, and accountability in academic and research processes across the University.

DASR is responsible for monitoring and coordinating various stages of postgraduate studies, including approval of research synopses, appointment of supervisors and evaluators, progress monitoring of research scholars, evaluation of theses/dissertations, and conduct of thesis defenses. The Directorate also ensures that academic departments, supervisors, and research scholars adhere to approved policies, procedures, timelines, and ethical standards governing postgraduate education and research.

In addition, the Directorate maintains records pertaining to graduate studies and research activities, prepares and updates regulations and guidelines, and ensures the implementation of decisions and policies approved by the competent authorities. Through effective oversight and coordination, DASR strives to uphold the quality, credibility, and integrity of postgraduate degrees awarded by the University.

Vision

To be an effective and credible Directorate that ensures the quality, integrity, and compliance of postgraduate education and research in accordance with the University's statutes, regulations, and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) guidelines.

Mission

To oversee and regulate postgraduate academic and research activities by ensuring that all postgraduate degree programs, research processes, and related academic affairs are conducted in accordance with approved policies, regulations, quality standards, and ethical guidelines of the University and HEC.

Objectives

To ensure that all postgraduate degree programs are administered in accordance with the approved rules, regulations, and quality standards of the University and HEC.
To serve as the Secretariat of the Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR) and facilitate the implementation of its decisions.
To oversee the approval, monitoring, evaluation, and completion of research work undertaken by MPhil/MS and PhD scholars.
To ensure compliance with approved policies, procedures, and ethical standards governing postgraduate studies and research.
To monitor the progress of theses/dissertations and ensure adherence to prescribed timelines and academic requirements.
To coordinate the evaluation of theses/dissertations and the conduct of thesis defenses in accordance with applicable regulations and guidelines.
To ensure that academic departments, supervisors, and research scholars comply with the University's and HEC's policies relating to postgraduate education and research.
To maintain and update regulations, manuals, prospectuses, and records pertaining to postgraduate studies and research activities.
To provide institutional oversight for quality assurance in postgraduate education and research across the University.
To ensure transparency, consistency, and accountability in all matters relating to postgraduate studies and research.

Functions and Duties

Convene and conduct BASR, and monitor the implementation of NUML timeline and BASR decisions.
Update the record on day to day basis by keeping in touch with the departments and concerned branches so that the preparation of BASR shall remain an ongoing process.
Monitor and ensure the admissions in MPhil & PhD programs according to availability of relevant supervisors and suitable supervisor-supervisee ratio.
Register and investigate grievances of research scholars and suggest a suitable solution to concerned HoDs/ Deans/Boards & Committees in light of the policy.
Ensure uniformity in decisions and implementation of the decisions across the graduate study programs/departments at NUML.
Monitor and ensure allocation of supervisors and evaluation of research thesis as per NUML Policies/ HEC guidelines.
Highlight anomalies in processing of the MPhil/PhD cases and decisions proposed by departmental committees or committees at university level which are not in line with HEC’s guideline/ policy which can have adverse effect on MPhil & PhD Programs at NUML.
Manage/verify the NUML Online Research Repository (http://norr.numl.edu.pk/home).
Monitor the completion of dossiers before the final viva exam and notification
Oversee the process of the revision of examiners, scheduling/approval of MS/MPhil & PhD final viva exam, and approval of extension /re-evaluation (if any).
Obtain approval of examiners of MS/MPhil & PhD theses and the remuneration of subject experts for GAC/FBS and for supervisors and examiners from the competent authority.
Guide the Scholars, Program Coordinator and Supervisors.