10/08/2026
IUST Approves New One-Year PG Programme in Arabic at 12th Board of Studies Meeting.
AWANTIPORA, August 7, 2026 — In a strategic initiative to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the evolving higher-education landscape , the Department of Arabic Language & Literature at the Islamic University of Science and Technology formally approved the syllabus for a proposed One-Year Postgraduate Programme in Arabic through rigorous expert curriculum review during its 12th Board of Studies (BoS) meeting held on campus on Friday .
Chaired by Prof. Afroz Ahmad Bisati, Dean of the School of Humanities & Social Sciences, the session focused on establishing an academically rigorous pathway for advanced Arabic studies. Dr. Abdul Waheed Shiekh, Head of the Department, convened the meeting, presenting the detailed curriculum framework to the Board.
The curriculum's approval followed extensive and constructive deliberations by a panel of distinguished external experts, university administrators, and department faculty. Key external reviewers included Prof. Shad Hussain Andrabi, former Professor and Head of the Department of Arabic at the University of Kashmir, and Prof. Mohammad Saleem, Professor and Head of the Department of Arabic at IGNOU, New Delhi. Representatives from the university's Academics and Examinations sections were also present to ensure administrative alignment.
During the session, the Board scrutinized various aspects of the proposed syllabus, including:
The overall academic structure and course content.
The contemporary relevance of individual papers.
The balance between linguistic fundamentals and literary components.
The programme's research orientation and intended learning outcomes.
The external experts provided valuable insights to strengthen the curriculum's academic quality. These suggestions, aimed at maintaining the intellectual depth of Arabic Studies while meeting modern academic requirements, were duly incorporated into the final approved syllabus.
Board members commended the Department of Arabic Language & Literature for its concerted efforts in conceptualizing the programme, viewing it as a critical step in expanding advanced learning opportunities at IUST.
The meeting concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Irfani Rahim, Associate Professor, who expressed gratitude to the Chair, the external experts, and the faculty for their academic guidance.
The Department will now proceed with the necessary administrative steps for the final processing and implementation of the approved one-year curriculum in accordance with university norms.
