About the Vice-Chancellor
Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh is an academic leader and public policy professional with over three decades of experience spanning higher education leadership, government administration, research, consulting, and executive training. He previously served as Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University, where he provided comprehensive academic, administrative, and financial leadership, and played a key role in institutional development and governance. Earlier, as Principal of Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, he led its transition to a full-fledged university.
Dr Shaikh has held several senior positions in federal and provincial governments, contributing to policy formulation, regulatory oversight, and institutional strengthening across education and public-sector organisations. His work reflects deep engagement with governance reform, transparency, and capacity building.
An accomplished researcher and writer, Dr Shaikh has contributed extensively to national discourse on higher education, history, and development. He regularly writes for Dawn and has authored and edited numerous scholarly works, including Pakistan in Perspective: Essays on History, Education, and Development (2025).
He remains actively involved in policy research, public-sector training, and advisory roles, and has served on various academic and institutional boards. Dr Shaikh holds a PhD in Mass Communication, an engineering degree, and has completed postdoctoral research in public policy and information laws. Â
Vice-Chancellor's Message
At the outset, let me state that it is an honour for me to serve as Vice Chancellor of Ziauddin University, a great seat of learning, known for excellence across multiple disciplines, from health and allied sciences to liberal arts, engineering, science and technology, management, law, governance and politics, natural sciences, and eastern medicines, with several campuses across Pakistan.Â
It is acknowledged worldwide that universities play the most crucial role in a nation’s growth, development, prosperity, and intellectual advancement. In other words, universities are the places where a nation’s present and future are shaped. It is no wonder that all the developed countries we see globally today also have great universities. There should be no doubt that Pakistan’s progress, prosperity, and development are directly dependent on the quality of education and research at its universities.  Â
In that context, Ziauddin University, named after Sir Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, holds a unique position in Pakistan’s higher education landscape. Dr. Ahmed was a distinguished educationist, reformer, scientist, and mathematician in pre-partition India. He was a close confidant of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and one of the most remarkable vice chancellors of Aligarh Muslim University. Ziauddin University draws inspiration from Dr. Ahmed’s progressive values and vision.Â
To achieve this objective, Ziauddin University provides a dynamic academic environment that enables students and faculty to pursue excellence in learning, teaching, research, and professional competence. Supported by a highly qualified and dedicated faculty, the University emphasises rigorous academic standards, outcomes-based education, and continuous quality enhancement across its programmes. Its modern teaching hospitals, laboratories, libraries, digital learning platforms, and research infrastructure provide students and researchers with the resources needed to translate knowledge into meaningful impact.
Beyond the campus, the University plays a vital role in Pakistan’s national development. By producing highly skilled professionals, researchers, educators, and socially responsible graduates, it directly contributes to human capital development. Its focus on applied research, community health services, and policy-relevant scholarship supports evidence-based decision-making and sustainable development at the national level, aligning with Pakistan’s social, economic, and developmental priorities.
In an era of rapid technological advancement, global interconnectedness, and evolving societal challenges, Ziauddin University aims to further strengthen its role as a centre for knowledge creation, innovation, and responsible citizenship. In this regard, the University consistently adopts the most modern international practices in teaching and learning, supported by an expanding network of national and international collaborations aligned with global academic standards. Our consistent aim remains to produce internationally competitive graduates who are intellectually empowered, professionally competent, ethically grounded, and socially responsive. Â
To sum up, Ziauddin University is an institution steeped in a rich historical legacy, guided by a forward-looking vision, and committed to quality education and impactful research. It is a globally connected institution that contributes effectively to Pakistan’s development and prosperity. To achieve this, we— the senior management, faculty, students, researchers, administrators, alumni, and partners — work closely together.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali ShaikhÂ
Vice ChancellorÂ
Ziauddin UniversityÂ
