Teaching Faculty - Mechanical Engineering

PhD (University Paul Sabatier, France) | Gold Medalist | HEC Approved PhD Supervisor | Professional Engineer (PEC)

Prof. Dr. Sheikh Kamran Afaq is a distinguished higher education leader, internationally trained mechanical engineer, researcher, and academic administrator with over 31 years of professional experience spanning engineering, research and development, university leadership, postgraduate education, and institutional transformation. Throughout his career, he has combined scientific excellence with visionary academic leadership, making significant contributions to engineering education, research, accreditation, innovation, and higher education policy in Pakistan.

Professor Afaq currently serves as Director of Advanced Studies & Research (DASR) and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at HITEC University Taxila, where he provides strategic leadership for postgraduate education, research policy, innovation, research quality assurance, international collaboration, and scholarly development. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Acting Vice Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, and Chairperson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, leading the University through a period of academic expansion, institutional modernization, and organizational transformation.

He earned his Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) with Gold Medal distinction from NED University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan, followed by a Master of Science (DEA) and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III), France, specializing in Composite Material Structures and Finite Element Analysis. He is an HEC Approved PhD Supervisor and a Professional Engineer registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council.

During his leadership at HITEC University, Professor Afaq successfully led numerous strategic initiatives that significantly strengthened institutional capacity and academic excellence. He played a central role in launching new academic programs in Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Computer Engineering, aligning the University's academic portfolio with emerging technological disciplines. He also led HEC Institutional Performance Evaluation (IPE) activities, supervised PEC and NCEAC accreditation processes, introduced enterprise-wide ERP systems, promoted sustainable campus development through solarization initiatives, established the HITEC Professional Academy (HOPE), strengthened the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), expanded university-industry partnerships, and oversaw the planning and completion of a PKR 550 million student residential facility. These initiatives substantially enhanced academic quality, operational effectiveness, research capacity, and institutional sustainability.

As Director of Advanced Studies & Research, Professor Afaq is committed to strengthening postgraduate education and advancing a vibrant research ecosystem that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, international partnerships, innovation, commercialization, and research excellence. His vision focuses on developing globally competitive researchers while aligning institutional research priorities with national development goals and emerging international scientific challenges.

Professor Afaq has made significant national contributions to engineering education and quality assurance. He has served as Convener and Member of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) and has played an active role in the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) through the Washington Accord, Outcome-Based Education (OBE) implementation, accreditation evaluation, faculty development, and the Engineering Practice Examination (EPE) Committee. He has delivered numerous faculty development workshops across Pakistan and has contributed extensively to curriculum modernization, accreditation, academic governance, and engineering education reform.

His research has earned international recognition in the areas of Composite Material Structures, Computational Mechanics, Finite Element Analysis, Tribology, Advanced Engineering Materials, Renewable Energy Systems, Thermal Engineering, Nano-materials, and Mathematical Modelling. His doctoral research introduced refined analytical models for laminated and sandwich composite structures incorporating transverse shear stress continuity and free-edge effects, contributing to advancements in computational structural mechanics. His master's research was nominated for the prestigious Schliekelmann Award of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE, USA) and presented at the SAMPE Europe Conference in Paris.

Professor Afaq has authored an Elsevier book chapter, published more than twenty internationally peer-reviewed research articles, and presented numerous papers at leading international conferences. His publications have appeared in renowned journals including Polymer Composites, Ocean Engineering, Tribology International, Materials Chemistry and Physics, Cellulose, Sensors, Sustainability, Computers & Structures, and the International Journal of Solids and Structures. His research has contributed to advances in composite structures, computational modelling, sustainable engineering materials, renewable energy technologies, tribology, heat transfer enhancement, and advanced manufacturing.

An accomplished postgraduate supervisor, Professor Afaq has supervised numerous doctoral and master's research projects covering composite structures, ballistic impact analysis, tribology, renewable energy, nano-materials, fatigue analysis, computational mechanics, and thermal systems. His students have contributed to both academic research and industrial innovation, supporting national priorities in engineering and technology.

Beyond research and teaching, Professor Afaq has established an outstanding record of academic service. He serves as a reviewer for internationally recognized journals, including Ocean Engineering (Elsevier), evaluates research proposals for the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), reviews postgraduate academic programs for the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and participates in the evaluation of Associate Professor and Professor appointments at leading universities. His contributions continue to strengthen research quality, academic governance, and engineering education across Pakistan.

Before joining academia, Professor Afaq accumulated more than fifteen years of engineering and research experience in Pakistan's government R&D sector, progressing from Assistant Engineer to Deputy Director/Principal Engineer, where he led multidisciplinary projects involving advanced composite materials, structural analysis, testing, fabrication, and engineering design. His earlier professional experience also included industrial consultancy, manufacturing plant commissioning, and industrial health and safety assessment.

Professor Afaq is an active member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE, USA), the Association pour les Matériaux Composites (AMAC, France), and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

Recognized for his strategic vision, collaborative leadership, academic integrity, and commitment to excellence, Professor Afaq continues to advance engineering education, postgraduate research, institutional development, and innovation. His career reflects a sustained dedication to building internationally competitive universities, strengthening research ecosystems, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and preparing future engineering leaders capable of addressing the complex technological and societal challenges of the twenty-first century.

Career Highlights

• 31+ years of professional experience in engineering, research, higher education, and academic leadership.
• Director, Advanced Studies & Research, HITEC University Taxila (June 2026 - Present).
• Former Acting Vice Chancellor of HITEC University Taxila (2021 - June 2026).
• Former Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology and Chairperson, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Professor of Mechanical Engineering and HEC Approved PhD Supervisor.
• PhD and MS (DEA) in Mechanical Engineering from the University Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III), France.
• Gold Medalist in Mechanical Engineering from NED University of Engineering & Technology.
• Led the launch of academic programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering.
• Directed HEC Institutional Performance Evaluation (IPE) and PEC/NCEAC accreditation initiatives.
• Spearheaded ERP implementation, campus solarization, research commercialization, and major infrastructure development projects.
• Convener and Member, HEC National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC).
• Active contributor to PEC Washington Accord, Outcome-Based Education (OBE), accreditation, evaluator training, and Engineering Practice Examination (EPE).
• Author of an Elsevier book chapter, 23+ international journal publications, and numerous conference papers.
• Reviewer for leading international journals and evaluator for HEC, Pakistan Science Foundation, and national academic institutions.
• Recipient of the Government of Pakistan scholarship for postgraduate studies in France and nominee for the prestigious Schliekelmann Award of SAMPE (USA).