Pro-Rector/Director

Brief Introduction

Professor Abdul Ghafoor is an academician and administrator par excellence with an admirable academic background, enviable expertise and rich experience in the higher education setting. After his bachelor’s in Pakistan he studied at prestigious international institutions for his higher education, obtaining his MS in Aerospace Engineering from University of Cincinnati, and earning his PhD in Robotics (Kinematics and Mechanisms) from Salford University in 1992. He also remained a Fulbright fellow at University of Florida College of Engineering, and later a research fellow at King’s College London. The excellence of this academic portfolio is matched by the brilliance of his illustrious career as a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Notably he served as Dean NUST College of EME for 5 years before being appointed to the esteemed position of Dean and Director General / Principal NUST School of Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering, a post he held for 9 years. He then joined Foundation University Islamabad as Pro Rector and Campus Director Foundation University Rawalpindi Campus (FURC) in November 2018. At FURC Professor Ghafoor’s leadership role chiefly sees him aggressively implementing an innovative strategic program to accelerate the institution’s growth and to diversify its interests, lead capacity building, energize human resource development, develop and allocate the campus’ budget, arrange funding for research, and liaise with academia and the industry. He also spearheads a strong research agenda that aims to foster a research culture in the institution by developing new research initiatives particularly by garnering external support. Professor Ghafoor has served in various national and international bodies that include Pakistan Prime Minister’s Taskforce on Education, Board of Governors, syndicates and academic councils of different universities. He has also served as member of Executive Committee of Islamic Network of Science and Technology Parks (INSTP), Iran, Member of University Alliance of Silk Road (UASR), Jiao Tong University of China and Talloires Network (TN), Tufts University, USA.

Professional Experience

1984-87	Aircraft Maintenance Officer: Pakistan Army Aviation, Rawalpindi Wworked on MFI-17, Jet Prop Commander and Bell 206
1992-95	Assistant Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
1995-98	Associate Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
1999-01	Head of Mechanical Engineering Department NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
2001-04	Associate Dean NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
2004-09	Dean NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical engineering, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
2009-2018	Director General (Principal and Dean): NUST School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), Islamabad, Pakistan. As head of the School, I have full financial and academic autonomy to manage all the affairs of the Schools. The School has four major academic and one supporting department, 700 UG and PG students, three academic buildings with 30 research and teaching laboratories. I am also serving on the following panels: Member Steering Committee for the Establishment of National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) at NUST. Chief Coordinator of Pakistan Chapter of Talloires Network at NUST. Co-Chairman of Automotive and Engineering Sectors of Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) of NUST. Chairman of DICE Foundation Automotive Sector in Pakistan. Executive Member of General Assembly of Inter-Islamic Network of Science and Technology Parks (INSTP), Iran.
2018 to date	Pro Rector/Director Campus, Foundation University Rawalpindi Campus

Research Publication

Published in Journals

1. Khan, Z., Saeed, A., Gregory, E., Hadfield, M. and Ghafoor, A., A Review of Biodiesel Performance within Internal Combustion Engine Fuel System, submitted to the Journal of Tribology in Industry.

2. KHAN, Z., Khan, Z. and Ghafoor, A., A Review of Performance Enhancement of PCM based Latent Heat Storage System within the Context of Materials, Thermal Stability and Compatibility. Submitted to the Journal of Energy Conversion and Management.

3. Attique, U.,Ghafoor, A.,Ahmed, R. and Ikramullah  S. Assembly Line Balancing Type-2 Using Unequal Multiple Operators, International Journal of Advanced Materials Research, Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland, 2013 (816-817), 1169-1173, 2013.

4. Khurshid, A., Ghafoor, A. and Afzaal, M. A., Modeling and Analysis of Soft Contact in Robotic Grasping Using Bond Graph Methods, International Journal of Advanced Materials Research, Trans Tech Publications Switzerland, 2011 (189-193), 1786-1792, 2011.

5. Alam, K.,Ghafoor, A. and Silber Schmidt, V. V., Analysis of Forces and Temperatures in Conventional and Ultrasonically-Assisted Cutting of Bone, Advanced Engineering Materials, Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland, 2011 (223), 247-254, 2011.

6. Khawar, J.,Ghafoor, A. and Chao, Y.,Validation of CFD-CSD Coupling Interface Methodology Using Commercial Codes, International Journal of Numerical Methods in Fluids, Wiley Inter Sciences, 65(5), 475-495, 2011.

7. Tariq, A.,Ghafoor, A. and Hussain, I.,An Evolutionary Algorithm for Job-Shop Scheduling, Advanced Engineering Materials, Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland, 29(1), 77-91, 2010.

8. Tariq,A., Ghafoor, A. and Hussain, I.,A hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Machine Part Grouping (Extended Version), Journal of Computer and Industrial Engineering, Elsevier , 56(1), 347-356, 2009.

9. Ghafoor, A.,Dai, J.S. and Duffy, J.,Stiffness Modelling of the Soft-Finger Contact in Robotic Grasping, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, ASME, 126(1), 456-464, 2004.

10. Ghafoor, A., Dai, J. S. and Duffy, J.,Fine Motion Control under Different Pre-Loading Configurations, Journal of Robotic Systems, Wiley Inter Sciences, 17(4), 171-185, 2000.

11. Ghafoor, A. and Kerr, D. R.,In-Grasp Robotic Fine Motion Using Frictionless Elastic Point Contacts, Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, I Mech. E, 206(1), 41-46, 1992.

Published in Conferences

12. Khurshid, A.,Ghafoor, A., Malik, M. A. and Ayaz, Y.,Modeling and Analysis of Robotic Grasping Using Soft Fingertips, International Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots (CLAWAR),Sydney,Australia, CLAWAR and IEEE, 14-17 July,2013.

13. Qasim, S. A.,Ansari, M. S., Ghafoor, A. and Mufti, R. A.,Steady and Unsteady High Viscosity Piston Skirts EHL in Initial Engine Start Up, MSV’12,The 2012 International Conference on Modeling,Simulation and Visualization Methods held at Las Vegas,USA, Proceedings of MSV’12, 16-19 Jul,2012.

14. Qasim, S. A., Ansari, M. S., Ghafoor, A., Malik, M. A. and Mufti, R. A.,Modeling the Low Initial Engine Start Up Speed 1^st Compression Ring EHL, The 2012 International Conference of Mechanical Engineering held under World Congress on Engineering gat London UK, Proceedings of the ICME 2012, 4-6 Jul,2012.

15. Ansari, M. S.,Qasim,S. A., Ghafoor, A.,Mufti, R. A. and Malik, M. A.,Unsteady Piston Strikes EHL at Large and Small Radial Clearance in Initial Engine Start Up”, The 2012 International Conference of Mechanical Engineering held under World Congress on Engineering, at London , UK Proceedings of the ICME, 2012, 4-6 Jul,2012.

16. Qasim, S. A., Ansari, M. S.,Ghafoor, A., Mufti, R. A. and Malik, M. A.,Modeling Transient Piston Skirts EHL in Initial Engine Start Up Using Different Viscosity-Guide Oils, 15th Nordic Symposium on Tribology,Trondheim,Norway, Proceedings of the Conference, 12-15 Jun,2012.

17. Alam, K.,Ghafoor,A., Mitrofanov, A. V. and Silber Schmidt, V. V.,Experimental Investigations of the Mechanics of Conventional and Ultrasonically-Assisted Drilling of Cortical Bone, IASTED Conference on Biomechanics, Pittsburgh,USA, Proceedings of IASTED Bio Mechanics, 7-9 Nov,2011.

18. Ansari, A.,Ghafoor, A. and Waseem, A.,Need Based Analysis for Reduction in Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Losses in Developing Countries , IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference Orlando,Florida,USA, IEEE, 16-19 May,2010.

19. Waseem, A. and Ghafoor, A.,Comprehensive e-Monitoring-Management and e-Billing (eM2B) System with Zoom-In and Zoom-Out Capabilities for System Automation and Reduction in Distribution Losses in Electric Supply Systems, 4^th Annual IEEE International System Conference,San Diego,USA , IEEE, 5-8 Apr,2010.

20. Ansari, A.,Ghafoor, A. and Waseem, A.,Industrial Automation Using Embedded System and Machine-to-Machine,Man-to-Machine (M2M) Connectivity for Improved Overall Equipment, IEEE International Conference on Systems,Man,and Cybernetics,Texas,USA, IEEE, 11-14 Oct,2009.

21. Khurshid, A.,Ghafoor, A. and Malik, M. A.,Effects of Material Properties on Soft Contact Dynamics, 11th International Symposium on Advanced Materials (ISAM-2009),Islamabad,Pakistan , Trans Tech Switzerland, 8-12 Aug,2009.

22. Khurshid, A., Ghafoor, A. and Malik, M. A., Bond Graph Modeling of Soft Contact for Robotic Grasping, International Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots (CLAWAR) and the Support Technologies for Mobile Machines,Coimbra,Portugal, CLAWAR/ IEEE, 8-10 Sep,2008.

23. Ghafoor, A. and Dai, J.S.,Optimum Size of a Soft Finger Contact in Robotic Grasp, International Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots and the Support Technologies for Mobile Machines,Coimbra,Portugal , CLAWAR/ IEEE, 8-10 Sep,2008.

24. Tariq, A.,Ghafoor,A. and Hussain, I.,Consideration of Single Machine Cells in Designing Cellular Manufacturing System Using a Hybrid Genetic Algorithm , 3rd International Conference on Emerging Technologies,Islamabad,Pakistan , IEEE, 12-13 Nov,2007.

25. Tariq, A., Ghafoor, A. and Hussain, I.,A hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Job-Shop Scheduling, 37^th International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering (ICCIE),Alexandria, Egypt, Elsevier, 20-23 Oct,2007.

26. Tariq, A. and Ghafoor, A.,A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Machine Part Grouping, 2^nd International Conference on Emerging Technologies,Peshawar,Pakistan, IEEE, 13-14 Nov,2006.

27. Ghafoor, A. and Dai, J. S.,Torsional Stiffnesses of the Soft Contact of a Soft Robotic-Finger, ASME 30th Biennial Conference on Mechanisms and Robotics, Salt Lake City,USA, ASME, 29 Sep-2 Oct,2004.

28. Tariq, A., Ghafoor, A. and Hussain, I.,A Comprehensive Approach for Cellular Manufacturing System Design, 2^nd International Industrial Engineering Conference,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia, IEEE, 19-21 Jul,2004.

29. Ghafoor, A.,Chen, C. H. and Dai, J. S.,Integrated Hand-Arm Grasp Using Lie Algebra Approach , International Conference on Intelligent Manipulation and Grasping, Proceedings of ICIM, 1-2 Jul,2004.

30. Chen, C. H.,Dai, J. S. and Ghafoor, A., Characteristics of Deformable Object Contact and Review of their Handling and Manipulation, International Conference on Intelligent Manipulation and Grasping, Proceedings of ICIM, 1-2 Jul,2004.

31. Ghafoor, A., Dai, J. S. and Duffy, J.,Analysis of Integrated Grasp Stiffness Matrix with Manipulator Parameters, ASME 27^th Biennial Conference for Mechanisms and Robotics,Montreal,Canada, ASME, 20-23 Sep,2002.

32. Ghafoor, A., Dai, J. S. and Duffy, J.,Grasp Stiffness Matrix for Soft Finger Contact in Robotic Applications, ASME 26^th Biennial Conference for Mechanisms and Robotics,Baltimore,USA, ASME, 10-13 Sep,2000.

33. Ghafoor, A. and Dai, J. S.,Control of In-Grasp Optimal Elastic Fine Motion, 10^th World Congress on Theory of Machines and Mechanisms under International Federation of Theory of Machines and Mechanisms (IFTOMM),Oulu,Finland, Proceedings of 10^th World Congress on TMM/ IFTOMM, 3,945-950, 20-24 Jun,1999.

34. Ghafoor, A.,Maqbool, K. andKhan, M. A., Multifunction Robtic Gripper, International Conference on Mechanical,Transmissions and Mechanisms,Tianjin,China, Proceedings of MTM-97, 900-901, 1-4 Jul,1997.

35. Ghafoor, A.,Qudsi, A. S. and Javed, M. Y., Generalized Optimization Software, IASTED International Conference on Modeling and Simulation,Pittsburgh,USA, Proceedings of IASTED/ ISMM , 195-197, 15-17 May,1997.

36. Ahmed, M. andGhafoor, A.,Extension in Calendar Life Limit for Aircraft Structures, 20^th International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS),Sorrento,Italy, Proceedings of ICAS-96-6-3-4, 702-709, 8-13 Sep, 1996.

37. Ghafoor, A. andKerr, D. R.,Linear Model of Patch Contact in Robotic Grasps, Third Biennial European Joint Conference on Engineering System Design and Analysis (ESDA),Montpellier France, Proceedings of ESDA, 9, 69-74, 1-4 Jul,1996.

38. Ghafoor, A. and Naser, W.,Optimization Software Package Based on Generalized Reduced Gradient Method , IASTED/ISMM International Conference of Intelligent Information Management Systems,Washington DC,USA, Proceedings ofIASTED/ ISMM, 159-162, 7-9 Jun,1996.

39. Ghafoor, A. andKerr, D. R.,Frictional Restraint and In-Grasp Fine Motion, 9^th World Congress on Theory of Machines and Mechanisms under IFTOMM, Milano,Italy , Proceedings of 9^th World Congress on TMM/ IFTOMM, 3, 2229-2233, 29 Aug-2 Sep,1995.

40. Ghafoor, A.,Fine Manipulation by Patch Contacts in Robotics Grasps, 9^th World Congress on Theory of Machines and Mechanisms under IFTOMM. Milano,Italy, Proceedings of 9^th World Congress on TMM/ IFTOMM, 3, 2234-2938, 29 Aug-2 Sep,1995.

41. Ghafoor, A. and Rafique, M.,Analysis of Errors in Measured Quantities, First International Aeronautical (7th National) Conference,Risalpur,Pakistan, Proceedings of “7th National Aeronautical Conference” PAF Academy Risalpur,Pakistan, 346-355, 26-27 Mar,1995.

42. Ghafoor, A.,Variations of Thermoplastic Constant for Materials Stressed to Inelastic Region, 34^thConvention of the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP),Karachi,Pakistan, Mar,1993.

Achievements

Established NUST School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

I have served as Director General and was assigned responsibilities of raising a new School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME) in H-12 NUST Main Campus. The scope of the work included planning of the project, raising of new buildings, identification of the academic programs that were to be started subsequently, establishment of laboratories and hiring of required faculty and staff .I undertook the responsibilities with a challenge and secured funding of equivalent to US$ 7.0 Million and started parallel work and managed everything timely. SMME is now a reality with the following infrastructure:

1. A School with essential and state of the art laboratories spread in three multi-storey buildings having more than 700 students and 200 faculty and staff.
2. Following departments are fully functional:

1. Department of Mechanical Engineering: The Department is running undergraduate and postgraduate (MS and PhD) programs in Mechanical Engineering since 2009.
2. Department of Design and Manufacturing Engineering: The Department is running postgraduate program (MS and PhD) since 2009.
3. Department of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence: The Department is functioning since 2010 and running postgraduate program (MS and PhD) since 2011.
4. Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences: It is functioning since 2011 and running MS and PhD programs in Biomedical Engineering/ Sciences since 2012 and 2015 respectively taking a lead in the country.
5. Design and Manufacturing Resource Centre: The center has been established and functioning since 2011 and is a unique of its kind. It has been developed based on a vision to provide services in the form of design and fabrication to the industry besides conducting courses related to Engineering Practice and Manufacturing Processes for undergraduate students and running vocational training for unskilled persons.

3. Developed the School as a Technology Transfer Center for the Industry: School has been raised as an entity with pure academic outlook where faculty besides teaching and doing research applies its expertise to help industry to rely on indigenous solutions. School faculty has been able to file 22 patents and launched a number of products in the market under the name of NUST and SMME in a short period of about 5 years. The leading products include:

1. Football Quality Sorter Machine for Anwar Khawaja Industries (AKI), Sialkot, Pakistan
2. Green Engine Test Cell for Millat Tractors Limited (MTL), Lahore, Pakistan
3. Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for off road vehicles, Heavy Industry Taxila (HIT),  Pakistan
4. Engine Blow-Bye Monitoring System for MTL and Defence Industry
5. Efficiency Enhancement of Starco Fan Industry, Gujrat, Pakistan
6. Electric Go-cart with solar trickle charging
7. Prototype of Suturing Device for Fascia Closure System for Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

4. Other Significant Achievements of SMME:

1. Most popular school amongst the candidates seeking admission into NUST undergraduate programs.
2. Popular among faculty of NUST.
3. Known for its niche as a solution provider to the industry
4. Working for accreditation under Washington Accord (WA) according to Outcome Based Education (OBE) system as desired by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). Mechanical Program of the School has been selected by PEC to present as a role model to WA team during the current year.

5. Holding International Conferences and Exhibitions:

1. Arranged 1st International Conference on Robotics and Emerging Technologies (ICREATE) Apr, 2014.
2. Arranged 1st DICE Automotive 2014 in Dec 2014 and 2nd DICE Automotive 215 in Nov 2015 along with 1st International Symposium on Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering (SAME).

Raising of Academic Department at NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (2004-2009):

I have served NUST College of E&ME as Dean from 2004 to 2009 and Deputy Commandant from 2006 to 2009. The College is the largest constituent of NUST with four undergraduate and six postgraduate programs including PhD. My responsibilities included, quality supervision of ongoing programs under NUST, faculty and staff hiring, R&D for Industry including army, availability of resources and infrastructure for laboratories and changing demands of the market.

I also raised Academic Studies Group at the College as academic component of NUST. The Group was made to function as a pure academic under the rules of NUST Statutes and was raised one of the most significant contributor to the NUST achievements. Full academic autonomy was achieved for the Academic Studies Group of the College and it contributed the most in the form of graduating students, R&D projects and arranging funding from all resources. The College was raised to the standards and it developed a niche as the best engineering institution of the country.

Obtained ISO-9001 Certification for NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (1999):I served as a Quality Management Representative (QMR) of the College and obtained ISO 9001 certification taking a lead among the national academic institutions.

Obtained the Status of Best Engineering Institution for NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (1996):  I worked as a lead person responsible for obtaining the PEC Accreditation in 1996. As a result of the PEC Accreditation College of E&ME was declared as the best engineering institution of the country. Thereafter PEC discontinued ranking of the institutions but the College retained its unique position for a long time.

Professional Contribution

I have been very active in my profession and have contributed at national and international forums. I have visited 3/4^th of the Globe in pursuance of excellence in the profession. Some of the contributions are:

1. International Forums:
   1. I was invited and delivered a keynote speech on University-Industry Linkages for Indigenous Development; A Case Study from Developing World in the International Conference of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (ICMIME) held at Rajshahi, Bangladesh 1-3 Nov, 2013.
   2. Was invited and delivered a keynote speech on Role of Higher Education in Socio-Economic Development in the International Conference on Capital Management (ICCM) held at Zanjan, Iran, 11-12 Sep, 2013.
   3. I was invited by the University of Malaya, Malaysia on Feb 2-4, 2013 and delivered a lecture on Contact Size Optimization for Robotic Grasping.
   4. I was twice invited as a Visiting Fellowship at Kings’ College London, UK in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Feb 2003 and Oct 2006.
   5. : Have been reviewing papers for ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, International Journal of Robotic Systems and ASME Conference of Robotics and Mechanisms.
2. I am serving on various National Technical and Professional Committees. These include:
   1. Member Selection Board United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) for selection of Fulbright scholars since 2004.
   2. Member Projects Technical Evaluation Committee, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) since 2000.
   3. Member Technical Evaluation Committee, HEC, for proposals on Strengthening Libraries and Laboratories of Universities and Institutes since 2010.
   4. Convener and Expert Accreditation Team PEC since 2000.
   5. Has served as a member Board of Governors (BoG), Institute of Space Technology (IST) as a nominee of the President of Pakistan, for years 2010-2012.
   6. Has served and represented HEC as member Syndicate UET Peshawar for years 2011-15.
   7. Has served as a Convener of Technical Committee to evaluate HHO Kit falsely claimed by a Technician and has the honor to brief the President of Pakistan Secretariat in 2013. The view point was accepted.
   8. Convener Scrutiny Committee and Member Selection Board UET Taxila since 2012.
   9. Member Editorial Board, Journal of Science and Technology published by UET Taxila.
   10. Has worked as a member committee for proposals on Manufacturing and Automotive sector development in the 10th 5-year plan of Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan in 2009-10.
   11. Serving as member Faculty Board of Studies and Quality Assurance committee of various universities.