HunarNama Celebrates the Legacy of Excellence: Prof. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan's Remarkable Career in Higher Education

July 20, 2024

After nearly three and a half decades of dedicated service to higher education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Prof. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan has retired, leaving behind a legacy that spans from his early days as a lecturer to his distinguished tenure as a Meritorious Professor and Vice-Chancellor of several universities. His journey, marked by academic brilliance and administrative acumen, culminated in his role as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, an institution he first joined as a freshman 44 years ago.

Prof. Jahanzeb's expertise in psychology and exceptional leadership skills have been evident throughout his illustrious career. He has held significant positions, including Vice Chancellor at the University of Swat, FATA University, and the University of Peshawar. At the University of Peshawar, he also served as Chairman of the Department of Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, roles in which he significantly contributed to the academic and administrative landscape.

His educational journey began at Gordon College Rawalpindi, followed by a Master's degree from the University of Peshawar. In his post-graduation, he worked as a clinical psychologist at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, the province's largest healthcare facility. However, his passion for academia led him to a lectureship in the Department of Psychology at the University of Peshawar, where he completed his MPhil in Psychodiagnostics and a PhD in Clinical Psychology, focusing on Pakhtun ethnic studies.

Prof. Jahanzeb further honed his expertise with a post-doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon his return, he was appointed professor and later psychology department chairman. There, he introduced new programs such as a BS and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology and established a Psychology Clinic and Assessment and Counselling Centre, providing crucial psychological services to the community.

His leadership extended beyond academia into developmental projects, exemplified by his successful management of a Public Support Development Programme (PSDP) project worth Rs48 million to strengthen the Department of Psychology. He also served as Director of the Staff Training Institute and Managing Director of the Peshawar University Teachers' Foundation.

In 2011, when terrorism had deeply affected the region, Prof. Jahanzeb was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Swat. He was the first to serve a full four-year term following the tragic killing of his predecessor. His tenure saw the establishment of 25 new academic departments and an Rs2.5 billion PSDP-cum-ADP project for the university's establishment.

Following his tenure at Swat, he returned to the University of Peshawar, where he was promoted to BPS-22 and reappointed as department chair and later Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. In 2021, he took on the challenge of leading FATA University in Darra Adamkhel, another volatile area, where he completed an Rs1.7 billion PSDP project, making the university fully functional with 18 departments despite severe security challenges.

After returning to the University of Peshawar as a Meritorious Professor in 2024, Prof. Jahanzeb was appointed Acting Vice Chancellor. His academic pursuits included a short-term postdoc at Leicester University in 2012 and completion of the National Security Workshop at the National Defense University in Islamabad in 2022.

Throughout his career, Prof. Jahanzeb designed and taught numerous courses, published extensively, and guided many research projects. He has mentored 15 PhD and five MPhil students, served as editor for several research journals, and garnered over 1000 citations as a social scientist. His contributions to the field of psychology were recognized through his presidency of the Pakistan Psychological Association.

Prof. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan's retirement marks the end of a profound chapter in higher education, yet his influence will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of academics and administrators. His legacy is a testament to his dedicated commitment to education, leadership, and the betterment of society.