In a significant move to enhance academic accessibility and research visibility, the University of Sargodha (UoS) has launched a state-of-the-art digital research repository through its Wazir Agha Library. Built on the open-source platform DSpace, the repository offers open access to MS/MPhil theses and PhD dissertations produced at UoS.
The launch ceremony was a high-profile academic event, graced by prominent figures from the higher education sector. Chief guest Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, praised the initiative, describing it as a major stride in promoting a research-oriented academic culture in Pakistan.
Dr Mukhtar also emphasized the importance of a centralized national repository to consolidate research outputs from universities across the country, aiming to improve accessibility, coordination, and knowledge sharing.
Echoing this vision, Prof Dr Kanwal Ameen, Vice Chancellor of Government College Women University Faisalabad (GCWUF), called for a unified national database to track ongoing MS/MPhil and PhD research projects. “This will not only prevent duplication of efforts but also help align research priorities across institutions,” she said.
The event was attended by Vice Chancellors and senior faculty from more than 20 leading universities, including the University of the Punjab, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, GC University Lahore, GC University Faisalabad, University of Education Lahore, and others.
Prof Dr Ramzan, Vice Chancellor of Emerson University Multan (EUM), commended the Wazir Agha Library’s broader efforts to nurture a research culture, particularly its newly established Research Support Lab, which supports early-career researchers.
UoS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas reaffirmed the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing national issues. He lauded the university library’s leadership for creating an environment that fosters scholarly excellence among graduate students and young faculty.
Chief Librarian Dr Muhammad Asif Naveed explained that the repository’s initial phase includes graduate theses and dissertations, with future plans to incorporate journal articles, conference papers, books, and institutional documents from key administrative offices such as the Registrar, Examinations, and Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC).
Dr Naveed also recognized the technical expertise of Mr. Muhammad Arshad Iqbal and the tireless efforts of Mr. Ahmad Shahood Aakash in deploying the platform.
The repository marks a transformative step for the University of Sargodha as it embraces open-access scholarship and paves the way toward a more connected and impactful academic future.