Professor
Dr. Syed Arif Kamal
Program Convener, the Early Talent Research
Participation Program
Project Director, the NGDS Pilot Project; HEC-Approved PhD Supervisor
MS (Indiana, Bloomington, USA); MA (Johns Hopkins, USA); PhD; Member AIAA (USA), IBRO (France)
Member, Expert Panel (Mathematics), National Curriculum Council,
Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan
Convener, Sub-Committee (Schools), the Education Committee,
Transparency International Pakistan
Convener, National Curriculum Revision Committee
(Mathematics), Higher Education Commission
Convener, Subject Committee (Mathematics), National
Testing Service
Member, Senate, Academic Council, Board
of Faculty, Board of Studies; Ex-Chairman
Professor, Department of Mathematics
UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI
Office: Room No. G-5,
Department of Mathematics, University of Karachi, University Road
Paper Mail: University of
Karachi, Post Office Box No.
8406, Karachi 75270 (Pakistan)
Homepage: http://ngds.uok.edu.pk/kamal • e-mail: sakamal(at
the rate of)uok.edu.pk
Link on KU Site: http://www.uok.edu.pk/faculties/mathematics/faculty.php#kamal
Telephones: (92 21) 9926 1300-6 ext. 2293 (secretary),
ext. 2380 (direct)
Public Profile: http://pk.linkedin.com/pub/dr-syed-arif-kamal/12/b71/400
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½ Profile ½ Professional Skills ½ Research ½ Pedagogical ½ Community Outreach ½ Biodata ½ Publications ½ |
Synopsis
of Leadership Vision
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Leadership
vision demonstrated in 15 roles played in carrying out
progressively-increasing responsibilities (motivation, administration, crisis
management, conflict resolution, establishment of national
projects/laboratories) for Higher Education Commission (Government of
Pakistan), National Testing Service Pakistan, Transparency International Pakistan,
University of Karachi, Defense Housing Authority (DHA) and Karachi Grammar
School as well as grooming future leaders through the Early Talent Research
Participation Program, resulting in policy change, elevation of education
standard, improvement in examination system and involvement of high school
students in research activities. |
1. Philosophy
To set and to realize goals, by
proper planning, execution,
monitoring and evaluation, without compromising ethics and
principles; to achieve efficiency and effectiveness, through
knowledge, skill and attitude, without affecting relationships;
to create opportunities for faculty, staff and students by
mentoring and effective delegation, with adequate follow
through and follow up.
2. Methodology
Before taking up the charge of Chairmanship
of Department of
Mathematics, University of Karachi, I
attended a number of
training sessions, e. g., “Skills
for Successful Supervision”,
“Human-Resource Management”, “Interviewing
Skills”, “How
to Conduct Performance Appraisals”,
“Training-Needs Assess-
ment (TNA)” and “Goal Setting”. It is very important to know
the personality trait of one’s
subördinates, one’s colleagues
and one’s bosses
as well as one’s own management style. For
example, my self an “owl” (indirect and
controlling), I have to
move at a faster pace and try not to
present information in detail with “eagle” (direct and controlling), whereas I
should openly show concern and appreciation as well as learn to compromise with
others while dealing with a “dove” (indirect and supportive). With “peacock”
(direct and supportive) I have to be more direct and be accommodating. I
analyze the style of the person I have to deal with and use appropriate
strategy (cf. Figure 1). During the
3-year (full) term of my Chairmanship (2003-6), all major policy decisions were
taken after taking into confidence the faculty.
The same strategy is being applied
in the other 14 roles of leadership, which I had the opportunity to play as
Head, Mathematics and Physics, Karachi Grammar School (1979), Head, Departments of Mathematics and Physics,
DHA Degree College (1991-2), Convener, National Curriculum Revision Committee for Mathematics, Higher Education Commission, Government
of Pakistan (2004-present), Convener, Subject Committee (Mathematics), National
Testing Service Pakistan (2009-present), Convener, Sub-Committee (Schools), the
Education Committee, Transparency International Pakistan (2011-present).
Included in the list are assignments at the parent institution as, Project
Director, the NGDS Pilot Project (1998-present), Chairman, Board of Studies
for Mathematics (2003-6) and Convener, Program in Industrial and Business
Mathematics, University of Karachi (2003-6), Acting Convener, Testing Services
Committee (2008-10, during absences of
Convener), Head, Research Groups in Astrodynamics (1995-present), Image
Processing (1996-present), Mathematical Biology (1998-present) and Mathematical
Physics (2005-present) as well as Director, the Syed Firdous Growth and Imaging
Laboratory (2008-present). I am, also, contributing in grooming future
leaders as Program Convener of the Early Talent Research
Participation Program, University of
Karachi (2002-present).
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DOVE Indirect & Supporting CONFLICT |
PEACOCK Direct & Supporting CONFLICT |
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OWL Indirect & Controlling CONFLICT |
EAGLE Direct & Controlling CONFLICT |
Fig. 1. Taken from the abstract of a seminar “Intelligent Power and Conflict Resolution”,
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, March 31, 2011
3. Accomplishments
Realizing that every manager is not a
leader, but every leader must be a good manager, I have stricken a balance
between routine and development work, made systems of paper handling and task
management, improved upon the punctuality of the staff and the students during the three-year tenure of Chairmanship. I am a good listener and have been able
to handle stressful situations, appropriately. On the academic side, four
seminar series have been revived, a new seminar series
(Professional-Skills-Development-Seminar Series) launched, a major seminar
conducted and industrial sector contacted to conduct TNA and to provide
internship for our students. The department got its own multimedia projector.
The computer lab was upgraded with latest P4 computers and laser printers
installed. Department website was made and inaugurated by Registrar of the
University. On the
human-resource-development side, new posts in various cadres announced,
applications collected and processed (scrutiny completed). In addition,
behavior-based interviewing system has been devised and implemented for the
hiring of coöperative teachers. I, also, started faculty-development programs.
PC-1 forms have been prepared and submitted for future expansion and
enhancement of the department.
The qualities, which provide me leadership opportunities are: a)
communication skills (forming opinions), b) pre-sentation/speaking
skills (persuasive — changing thinking and initiating action), c)
networking (resolving conflicts), d) ability to portray vision
Board
of Studies for Mathematics, University of Karachi, under my chairmanship,
prepared and approved BS, MS and PhD programs, in line with revised HEC
curricula of 2005. In fact, Department of Mathematics was the first to put
forward these curricula, in response to April 5, 2005 instructions of Vice
Chancellor. All decisions were
taken with consensus. Not a single meeting was adjourned because of lack of
quorum.
As
Convener of Program in
Industrial and Business Mathematics,
University of Karachi, I was able to establish industry-university linkage.
Faculty from Department of Mathematics gave workshops and professional
develop-ment short courses for industry. In return, industry offered
internships and jobs to our students. Students of morning program could also
pursue Masters in Industrial and Business Mathematics.
As
Director of the Syed Firdous Growth and Imaging Laboratory, University of
Karachi has the honor to step ahead of rest of
world in anthropometric measurements
(heights, masses and mid-upper-arm circumferences can be obtained to accuracies
of 0.01 cm, 0.01 kg, 0.01 cm, respectively, at other
places these measurements are obtained to accuracies of 0.1 cm, 0.1 kg,
0.1 cm, respectively). Other distinctions of laboratory are world’s
lightest full-length moiré recording system. Currently, our lab is involved in
developing algorithms for growth-and-obesity profile of
child, edge-based moiré and edge-based raster.
Achievements of research groups are highlighted in Research
Synopsis. Some of the notable
concepts put for-ward by me are the fourth law of thermodynamics, the sixth paradigm of physics, cross lattice (generalization of reciprocal
lattice — condensed matter physics), intelligent power (generalization of soft power and
smart power — international relations), modeling money (flow) as a substance-like quantity (mathematical economics), edge-based moiré (combination of moiré fringe
topography and edge-based algorithm — computer vision), air-space-craft of the third millennium (green-engineering principles — aeronautics and astronautics), mathematical definition of brain death (exploring group structure of covariant model of global
electrocortical activity — mathematical neuroscience) and anthromathematics (mathematics of body sizes, forms,
proportions and structures). Aero-space, health-care and security technologies
are impacted by research conducted in our laboratories.
As Project
Director of the NGDS Pilot Project, I was able to provide leadership to my team to develop:
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a) |
Human-rights and ethical standards
for conducting a research project involving minor subjects and parents with
little or no education |
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b) |
Inexpensive, indigenously-built
anthropometric instruments |
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c) |
Standardized-anthropometric
techniques for obtaining reliable and reproducible measurements (manual
prepared, containing step-by-step procedures as well as sources of error and
hazard/injury) |
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d) |
A method to generate a detailed growth
profile of child based on heights of biological father and biolo-gical mother |
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e) |
Moiré fringe topography apparatus (a
stereophotogrammetric technique) for somatotyping and screen-ing of trunk
deformities, without using X rays |
As Convener of Subject Committee for Mathematics, National Testing Service, I was able to formulate, with consensus,
policy outline and
guidelines for developing GAT (Graduate Admissions Test) items, which was later approved by the
Academic Committee, of which I was a member by virtue of being the Vice
Chancellor’s Nominee.
As
Convener of National
Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) for Mathematics, Higher Education Commission, I was given the task, in 2005, to prepare framework for BS and MS
programs (introduced at national level for the first time) as well as bring PhD
program in line with equivalent programs in developed countries. These programs
were revised and updated in 2008 by the same committee.
As Convener of Sub-Committee (Schools), the Education
Committee, Transparency
International Pakistan, I am
trying to develop protocols to foresee opportunities for corruption in a new
project, monitor (follow through) operations to make sure that laid-down
procedures are followed and evaluation (follow up) to determine corruption/performance
index by employing a model based on ideas from thermodynamics.
As Acting Convener, Testing Services Committee (TSC),
University of Karachi, presented report on the proposed examination system in
Academic Council, which was approved by the august body. An opportunity to demonstrate
skills of conflict resolution (cf. Figure 1) came up during conduct
of first consolidated test (since the formation of TSC) on January 24, 2010,
when I took key decisions regarding testing of medical doctors, which averted
major clash between the administration and the candidates.
As Head of
Department of Mathematics and Physics, DHA Degree College, I supervised a staff
of 5, dealt with local suppliers. This assignment provided me a chance to
establish Physics Laboratory from scratch.
One’s leadership skills are, truly, demonstrated during crises situations. I
had to deal with two such incidents, one involving fire in the sub-station next
to Department of Mathematics and the other resulting from clash between two
rival student groups during students’ week. Both of them occurred when I was
not holding chairmanship of department. However, I remained in the department
till the end, directing the staff to protect human life (vacate the building),
contain inflammables, unplug computer and electrical equipment and secure
laboratories and building, as per established norms and procedures,
internationally.
4. Honors
During my tenure as Chairman (2003-6), Department of Mathematics won a grant of Rs 2 million, annually, for
a period of 3 years from National Center of Mathematics. Vice Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of
Sciences, both, visited the department twice within a span of 6 months,
Pro-Vice Chancellor 3 times and Registrar once (to inaugurate the departmental
website). Foreign guests, included professors/scientists from Norway and Sweden
as well as Former Division Chief, United Nations Capital Development Fund from
New York, USA. In the words of Acting Director, the International Center for
Chemical and Biological Sciences, Department of Mathematics was on the
forefront during this period (16th meeting of senate on December 20,
2006).
The model of MS courses,
prepared by NCRC of Mathematics, was adapted by committees of other subjects.
The NGDS team was asked to train master anthropometrists of the Tawana Pakistan team (project conducted by the Aga Khan Foundation). The height-measurement system, developed by the NGDS team, was adopted by the Tawana Pakistan team.
On October 28, 2008 a team from French Embassy in
Islamabad visited our department and discussed possible projects for
collaboration.
5. Goals
I am trying to work with the
current chairwoman to make Department of Mathematics, University of Karachi,
the best department among all the mathematics departments in the entire country
(presently, our department is ranked number three, nationally). In addition,
plans are underway to establish Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Quality of
the faculty, technical aspect of the facilities, functionaries of the
department as well as the academic freedom to explore, to teach and to
disseminate determine prestige of any department. I am trying to work on all
these fronts, simultaneously.
Aimed at developing leadership vision
Intelligent
Power, Conflict Resolution, Complexity and International Trade
Seminar, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), City Campus, Karachi, May 28, 2011
Intelligent
Power and Conflict Resolution
Seminar, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, the Quaid-é-Azam Campus, Lahore,
March 31, 2011
Time
Management
Professional-Skills-Development Seminar, Department of Mathematics, University of Karachi, September 14, 2006
Goal Setting
Professional-Skills-Development Seminar, Department of Mathematics, University of Karachi, March 30, 2006
Department of Mathematics, University of
Karachi: Challenges and Opportunities for the Twenty-First Century and the
Third Millennium (Opening Remarks)
Guest Research Seminar,
Department of
Mathematics, University of Karachi, August 6, 2005
Third
from right, during Panel Discussion on December 24, 2008
Updated:
March 1, 2012 (0000h GMT)
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PDF Version
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½ Profile ½ Professional
Skills ½ Research ½ Pedagogical ½ Community
Outreach ½ Biodata ½ Publications ½ |
Best viewed with 800 x 600 screen
resolution using Microsoft Internet Explorer. Copyright: 1998-2012 Professor
Dr. Syed Arif Kamal