How to Select Your Final Project?

By Fatima tuz Zuhra

Lecturer, DCS UoP

Most of our students work on their final project just for fulfilling the requirements of their degree and in doing so they select such a project that is easy (according to their point of view). No doubt that this project is one of the important requirements for obtaining their degrees, but what is most important is that this project is the first opportunity for a student to practically apply the theories and concepts he/she has learnt in his/her four years study duration. They really learn during conducting this project. If this project is selected and conduced well, the student will be successful both in his/her professional life and further study e.g. MS and Ph.D.

The task of a teacher is to give right directions to students. The rest depends on the student. If he follows the directions, by working hard, success will be his. Although, this short text is not enough to set hard and fast rules for final project selection, some guidelines are provided which can help a student because final project selection is one of the crucial and hard tasks in student life.

There are two choices for final project selection: developmental project and research project. In a developmental project, the student must follow any of the software lifecycle models and must deliver a software product at the end of the project. This deliverable should be tested and debugged in all respects and must be efficient. Research projects, on the other hand, are based on research methodology. It involves a lot of literature survey i.e. a deep study of the existing knowledge. At the end of research project, the student is required to add something new to knowledge that is worth to know. Developmental projects, in my view, are recommended for those students who intend to join software industry soon. However, if a student wants higher study i.e. MS or Ph.D., then I think such a student must select a research project.

Some suggestions for the selection of final project are given below:

            i.            First of all, the student should think about his/her own interest. During his/her study, the student has studied many Computer Science subjects e.g. Data Communication and Networking, Databases, Signal Processing, Graphics, Compilers, Artificial Intelligence, E-Commerce, Operating Systems and many more. All these subjects are open for research as well as developmental projects.

          ii.            If the student is still confused, he/she can go and ask for guidance from any faculty member. If a teacher provides some options, the student should note these down and should search heavily on the Internet to select any of these options.

        iii.            There are discussion forums and e-mail groups which can be joined for getting valuable ideas and discussions on what is going on currently in any particular subject area. Joining such groups is recommended for students.

        iv.            Our university has provided students with an important facility i.e. the Digital Library. For a computer science student, it is important to access IEEE and ACM. If these resources are used well, there will be no problem in the selection of such a project, which is most wanted internationally.

          v.            The student must keep in mind, however, that for acting on the points given above, a single week or two or even a month is not enough. Although it is better to spend more time on deciding the project, it does not mean to delay the project! It means students should explore every subject they study, right from the beginning semesters (and should not defer it to the seventh or eighth semester). Students should join discussion groups and hear (at least) the discussion there much before seventh semester. They must take advantage of the digital library much before they are asked for submitting project proposals!     

Whatever choice the student takes, the main things are hard work, consistency, patience and proper planning. Good luck for your project!

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DCS Students Awarded In Umeed-e-Pakistan Talent Gala

There is no doubt in the fact that Pakistani students are rich in talent and have the skills to compete at any level. The only thing that is required is a little appreciation and support. On Oct 6, 2011, an event titled “Umeed-e-Pakistan Talent Gala” was arranged by Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, University of Peshawar with the aim to encourage and reward the talented students.

            The chief guest for the event was Vice Chancellor UOP, Dr Azmat Hayat Khan. Other guest included Dr Islam Gohar, Director Pashto Academy, Dr Johar Ali, President PUTA, Dr Dost Muhammad, Director Islamic Center and Sami Ullah Hussaini, General Secretory IJT, Pakistan. During their speeches the guests highlighted the importance of education in the positive progress of the nation and the role of young students in putting their nation on the right path. They also praised IJT team for arranging such a morale boosting event and wished that such events were arranged on regular basis to motivate and encourage the talented youth of KPK.

            At the end of the event, position holders of different departments of the university were rewarded with shields by the Chief Guest. Awardees included 45 students from DCS. Over all it was a successful and praise-worthy event.

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The Role of Information Technology in Islam

In today’s world, Information Technology is considered to be main source for getting & spreading any kind of information whether it is scientific, informative or advertisement. Firstly, Islamic literature was only available in audio tapes and in written text mostly available in mosques, Islamic schools and libraries. But now Muslim world has realized the use of Information Technology in the spreading of Islamic literature all over the world. Quran translation, Hadith, Tafseer, Fiqh written by many eminent scholars in different languages is easily and mostly free available on the internet in the form of audio, video and electronic form. Many Islamic forums, websites, Islamic Chat rooms are available on the internet where the Muslims as well as non-Muslims around the world can come and join these rooms and forums. Many Islamic scholars around the world are available online to give answers for the questions raised by the individuals related to Islam. This study shows that Information Technology not only makes the Islamic literature accessible all over the world but also played a very important role in spreading Islam and also to clarify the misconceptions of non-Muslims about Islam.

Qur’an education

Some of the useful sources are mention below

http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/

http://islam.thetruecall.com/modules.php?name=Quran

http://www.guidedways.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=1&translator=7

http://islam.org/Mosque/Quran.htm

http://quranicaudio.com/

http://www.guidedways.com/tafsir/tafsir.php?tafsir=0

Hadith & Fiqha

Hadith collections i.e. Sahih-Bukhari, Sahih-Muslim, Sunan Abu-Dawud, Malik’s al-Muwatta and their translation are also available in many languages through the internet.

Some useful sites are

http://www.iiu.edu.my/deed/hadith/

http://www.tanzeem.org/resources/hadithonline/index.htm

http://www.islamicfinder.org/

http://www.guidedways.com/book_display.php?book=1&translator=1

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah

http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~calmsa/sahih.html.

http://www.nbic.org/isru/Resources/Maqasid

Islamic Literature

Information technology makes it very easy for a person to find and access the Islamic material which was firstly not available in specific area or country.

Some source on internet is

http://www.harunyahya.com/en.m_book_index.php

http://www.tanzeem.org/

http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/islam.htm

http://islam.thetruecall.com/

http://api.fmanager.net/

Islamic Software

http://www.islamicfinder.org/

http://www.islamicity.com/

http://www.digitalislam.eu/

Online Islamic Classes & Lectures

http://www.sunnipath.com/

http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/

http://www.studying-islam.org/

http://www.shariahprogram.ca/

http://www.openstudy.org/

http://www.al-islam.org/help/onlinecourses.html

Online Talks & Discussions

Paltalk, Messenger are available that can be downloaded and used to participate in online discussions where everybody can actively participate while writing or speaking. Many Islamic talks & discussion rooms run by different scholars around the world are available in Paltalk 24 hours a day.

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Role of Youth in Development of KPK and FATA

Youth, anywhere in the world, carry the burden of future. The region of KPK and FATA, marred by terrorism and poverty, is today one of the most unstable regions of the world. The already tardy wheel of development is further slowed down by the post 9/11 scenario. Youth of this region need more than anyone and more than ever to contribute to development of their region. As if poverty, unawareness, lack of education, lack of infrastructure, wasn’t enough, the label of terrorists has further jeopardized prospects of investment and development. We have more responsibility on our shoulders than any other average youth of Pakistan. We lagged behind and are now pushed further backward by the brutal forces of time and circumstances.

As youth of this under-privileged area, we need to recognize the call of the hour right in our prime, when our energies and spirits are high. Our problem is that we are distracted and disoriented as a whole. Disgruntled, dissatisfied, but not ready to take matters in our own hands and do our due bit. We need direction. There’s an enormous amount of time and energy we waste on a daily basis on mindless gossip, needless texting, and God knows what else. We need channelization. Region of KPK has immensely fertile minds and unwavering wills:  The fountain of youth that flows within us needs to be harnessed and utilized before it dries away with time.

So what do we do? Our primary weapon is education. Improvement always starts at a personal level and goes beyond. Educated, aware youth can not only guarantee better lives for our families but can contribute to the greater development of the society. And by education, I don’t mean a mere degree; there should be awareness and realization of ground realities, and a sense of responsibility towards the society. We don’t want feudal lords who themselves are educated abroad, but hamper any activity to bring education and awareness to their subjects.

Also, the avenues of education are broader than ever before. Now no more restricted to medical, engineering being the “only” worthy fields, there’s a variety of academic programs to hone the very skills that a student has. This has given the youth a brighter chance of training and excelling in their fields. Add to it the trend of entrepreneur ship: kind of novel but catching fast in KPK. We are getting better equipped to find solutions in problems, to create opportunity in fiasco.

With promoting education, it’s required to promote the concept of Community Service alongside. Bettering your community in the smallest way possible can go a long way, like taking up education projects, awareness campaigns, training programs, etc, with willing partners. Over the past few years, a few such Youth Organizations have emerged in Peshawar, which are doing a commendable job in directing their energies to community projects, and they’re being patronized by higher authorities. These are good designs and it is hoped the radius of these activities will expand far.

Armed with newer technologies and newer ideas, and connection to whole world, today’s youth is potent to raise voice and take measures at levels our elders could never imagine. Cyber world is a great platform that youth is already using to create awareness, build teams and take up projects for betterment of community. Flood relief activities, cleanliness campaigns, Polio awareness drives, youth leadership events… I didn’t hear of them when I was a child but my generation has started doing this and much more. The spirit to serve is complemented by the spirit to lead and in this process, we’re producing true leaders. 

Then there’s the issue of brain drain. Those who get the opportunity to acquire good education and rewarding careers, carry the responsibility of paying their community’s debt. They should be the agents of change & development: get the wisdom from the world over but stay connected with their roots and introduce whatever measure of development they can to their people. Build schools, hospitals, welfare centers, etc or support existing ones. The room for improvement is immense; scope of development vast. When Greg Mortenson, an American, who had no initial interest in Pakistan other than climbing K2, can recognize this need and build 32 schools in remote areas with his own meager savings and funding through campaigning, why can’t sons and daughter of this soil?

When the world is pointing fingers at us for international heinous crimes, and isolating us on a global level, it’s up to us, the youth, to filter out the noise of accusations, and shun this label of ignorance and terrorism. And we need to work with perseverance for that, with no room for despair or despondency.  Our ancestors have given them the chance to make laughing stock out of us; it’s up to us to create new identity for ourselves. It can’t be achieved over the night, but only through planning and implementation of development ideas. We, the Pathans and non-Pathans of KPK and FATA, are peace-loving people who can turn the wheel of time and with God’s will, they will. We’re Iqbal’s “mard-e-kohistani”, his true Spartan “Shaheens”; we’re gallant but lovely people, and it’s time we put ourselves in line with the rest of the world. We just need to set our mind to it, and history proves that no one, absolutely no one can subjugate the will of our people, our youth.
By : Midhat Un Nisa
BCS UoP Peshawar

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Chhammak Challo Welcome and Farewell party 26 October 2011

As is the tradition in Department of Computer Science, a grand party is held each year to welcome the incoming batch and bid farewell to outgoing students. This year, it was our time to depart, as our juniors bid us farewell and welcomed the fresh batch.

We called this department home and leaving home is no mean feat, so, emotions were running high as we took the seats once held by our seniors, and the seniors before them. It was our turn; and we couldn’t help feeling the reversal of roles. Who would have thought we will occupy these seats one day, up until that day?

But as soon as the party kicked off, emotions went out the window. It was a show well put together. They sang, they danced, they performed, they acted, and what not. As soon as we thought they had performed their best, viola, they had another ace up their sleeve. All in all, it was an evening well spent and enjoyed.  Some of us danced the hell out of themselves. Not only was it an exciting welcome, but an outstanding farewell as well. We were bid adieu in the most befitting way. The evening kept the spirit of our predecessors alive, and paved way for the next ones. And, indeed, carved its place in our memories. A big thank you to you all the organizers for making our farewell a beautiful one! Three cheers for the students of Department of Computer Science!!!

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Rewinding Memories

Nisar Ahmad 

Being a final year student when I move back to the glorious past I realize that the world is moving so fast that who ever stops will be crushed in the race of survival. I can not forget the magnificent four years I spent at DCS that filled my life with precious experience and the exciting moments with friends, the way I learnt and experienced, the way the university polished me and enabled me to face the challenging times. My time is almost over here but the splendid image of these golden moments will remain captured in my memories.

Hail “Home Sweet Home” but hostel life has its own charm. The greatest blessing there is independence. Unlike home we did what we wanted, hanging out with friends, sharing and caring for each other, plowing through exams, pulling on all-nighters. They’re such fun memories but there were also the cons of distance from loved ones, managing all affairs on my own, cooking and washing and what not, but overall I really enjoyed that sort of life.

I joined techbytes in 2009 as its editor, but it not only remained a hobby but a great deal of responsibility and a challenging job. I am really excited of having association with techbytes team and today this feeling hasn’t let me down.

I treated the university not only as an academic place, but a centre of socialization as well where I learnt how to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. I’d heard university life is the most wonderful and unforgettable part of your life, and now at the time of departure I’m intensely realizing this fact. In the end I would like to thank all those people who contributed to my life and shared the good and bad times.

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