Center of Excellence in Agriculture Food Technologies

About COEAFT

The center’s primary objective is to foster innovation, field-oriented research, address the industries issues, short term training, development of postharvest technology and food processing. COEFAT will provide services, resources to entrepreneurs, train farmers, and existing businesses in the food and agriculture sector, such as business mentorship, product development, testing and validation. In line with PAFIAST slogan of Skilling Pakistan, the center will facilitate knowledge exchange, skill enhancement, and technology transfer to address challenges in the agricultural and food sectors in the region as well in the country. COEAFT will play its active role in cutting-edge research in postharvest technology and food processing to enhance food safety, quality, and shelf life while reducing postharvest losses.

Postgraduate studies in the Center of Excellence in Agriculture Food Technologies (COEAFT) at Pak-Austria Fachhochschule, faculty of biomedical sciences, Department of Food Engineering, offers MS program in “Food Processing and Packaging Technology” in Fall 2023. The program has been approved by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan. The program's main goals are to give students practical experience, bridge the knowledge gap between academics and industry.

Why Study at PAF IAST?

Location and Ambience

PAF IAST is nestled in natural mountains that flank its campus from all sides, offering one even the ravishing view of snow-capped peaks of Nathiagali and natural winding trails. To its north-west is Tarbela Lake, a journey of only a few kilometers from the campus. Set in the middle of the campus is a natural lake, fed by the springs of surrounding mountains. The campus is just a 3-kilometer drive from the Hazara Motorway. The ideal setting equally conducive to academic activity and aesthetic sensibilities of the human eye is a serene island of its own kind, far from the chaos, congestion, and cacophony of metropolitan culture. The major cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila, and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour.

Technology Advancement and Foreign Partnership

This institute is an emerging center of excellences, with its own technology park. All faculty members hold PhD degrees in appropriate disciplines. By virtue of its wide array of facilities and the facilitation for its students to learn and benefit both from classroom teaching and faculty trained at premier Austrian universities/institutions, the institution is ideally cut out for imparting state-of–the-art engineering and allied education in Pakistan. The institute enjoys close linkages with top ranking universities in Austria and China. We have already concluded with them formal agreements regarding student and faculty exchange programs, provision of dual degrees in certain areas, and the training support from foreign faculty. cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour.

Academia-Industry Relationship

There is a strong synergetic relationship between academia and industry which paves the way for job opportunities for students even in the midst of their studies. PAF IAST will serve as a welcome platform for the industry to share their requirements for a skilled workforce. This will enable the institute to incorporate their valuable inputs in practical vocational training and expose the students to industrial perspectives

On-Spot Industry Internship

It will be a mandatory requirement for every student to do an internship every semester in an appropriate industry. This will garner them practical experience related to their respective degree programs. To crown it all, Technology Park will afford them rare opportunities to apply themselves innovatively and become promising entrepreneurs.

Need and Merit-based Scholarships

Different types of local and foreign scholarship opportunities are available on need and merit base.

Smart Classrooms
Sports
Hostels
Libraries
Facilities

PAF-IAST is the only smart campus in Pakistan with blanket Wi-Fi coverage and smart classroom solutions for its classrooms and lecture theatres. These smart facilities offer the most advanced Interactive Digital Board, AI-enabled Speaker’s tracking camera, Lecture Recorder, along with other ancillary equipment.

Besides jogging tracks, two large grounds are reserved for cricket and football. Apart from the indoor game facilities at each Academic block, badminton, volleyball courts also have been made available.

Fully furnished shared accommodation is available for resident students. Boarding facilities are exclusively meant for students hailing from remote cities. Boarding facilities include comfortable rooms, fully functional dining halls, anteroom, Wi-Fi facility, indoor games, vending machines and laundry.

The campus has a high standard library, well provided with course textbooks along, reference books, and a good number of necessary research journals for each area of specialization. The library complex also comprises a few cubicles with smart boards installed for research group discussions and presentations.

PAF-IAST Campus offers ample ancillary services to ensure a conducive academic and working environment for all. These facilities include automated vending machines to readily provide students at fair price snacks, beverages, essential commodities 24/7, especially during short breaks without having them rush to the cafeteria now and then. Considering the needs of students, faculty, and staff, multiple vending machines are being installed at various places across the campus. Gradually, these machines will be made compatible for integration with Smart Campus One Card Solution which PAF-IAST plans to deploy in the days ahead to promote cashless campus culture.

Admissions

PAF-IAST promotes equal opportunities and welcomes students from all backgrounds, irrespective of their creed, color, gender, ethnicity, and their social and financial status. Female students are encouraged to join any program of their choice and realize their dreams.