The University of Central Asia (UCA) has announced the appointment of its first Rector.
Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi reportedly joined the University on August 2, and as part of his orientation will be visiting the University’s programs and activities in the three Founding States of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Prior to joining UCA, Prof. Naqvi was Vice Chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) for five years. Under his stewardship LUMS launched two new schools, multiple campus development, and other initiatives including the Center for Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, LUMS’ research performance achieved global recognition, reflected in its improvement in the QS Asia University rankings from 190 in 2013 to 103 in 2018.
Prof. Naqvi was also the Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of the Government of Pakistan for eight years. He oversaw the implementation of an ambitious portfolio of programs which resulted in significant growth of research in Pakistan’s universities, and the quadrupling of student enrollment. He has extensive teaching, research, and entrepreneurial experience, both in the US and Pakistan, and has also been a consultant on higher education for the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. He was awarded the Order of ‘Palmes Académiques’ with rank of Chevalier, by the French Government, and Sitar-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan for his services to higher education.
UCA was founded in the year 2000. The Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan signed an International Treaty and Charter to establish this secular, private, not-for-profit University. The treaty was ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents of the three host countries are Patrons of UCA, and His Highness the Aga Khan is the Chancellor. UCA was established to offer an internationally recognized standard of higher education in Central Asia and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas, and innovation to the economies and communities of the region.
UCA’s mission is to foster the socio-economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the peoples of the region preserve and draw upon their rich cultural heritages as assets for the future. UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network.
