KARACHI: Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) has taken a landmark step to safeguard academic continuity and campus safety by approving a comprehensive Natural Calamity Preparedness and Contingency Policy during its 37th Academic Council meeting.
Chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Amjad Siraj Memon (S.I.), the meeting—organized by the Registrar’s Office—endorsed a robust framework for managing disruptions caused by natural calamities or civil unrest. Key measures include:
Mandatory shift to online classes during prolonged closures to ensure uninterrupted academic activities.
Clear evacuation and on-campus shelter procedures during office hours.
Coordinated response plans for transport, medical assistance, counseling, and emergency relief.
Major Academic Approvals
The Academic Council also approved several key initiatives to strengthen JSMU’s educational programs and institutional governance:
- College of Occupational Therapy of JPMC granted formal status as a constituent college of JSMU.
- Approval of a quality assurance roadmap for affiliated colleges.
- Inclusion of a Quran Fehmi course in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
- Formation of alumni chapters for each institute as per HEC guidelines.
Reconstitution of the Boards of Studies for Pharmacognosy and Pharmacy Practice, and the Board of Faculty for the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPS), alongside the ASRB.
Adoption of a MHPE assessment policy and a Ph.D. zero semester structure requiring 9–12 credit hours in line with HEC policy.
Increase in OSCE stations from 7 to 14 in Periodontology and Oral Medicine.
Introduction of an Ethics course and an Interfaith Harmony topic in the BSN Islamic Studies curriculum.
Commitment to Excellence
These measures reaffirm JSMU’s dedication to academic excellence, ethical education, and proactive crisis management. The University remains steadfast in its mission to ensure the safety, well-being, and uninterrupted learning of its students and faculty.
