The 31st meeting of the Academic Council of COMSATS University Islamabad was held at Islamabad Campus. Around 46 members of the academic council, representing various campuses, faculties and departments of CUI participated under the convenorship of Prof Dr Afzal, Rector CUI. The Academic Council is the principal academic forum of the university, which is charged to lay down proper standards of instruction, research and examination and deliberate upon academic affairs of the university as per its Act of 2018. The Academic Council of CUI held its last regular meeting in January 2018 and was faced with the challenge of harmonizing rules and regulations for issues that emerged during this period. Prof. Dr. Afzal in his opening remarks of the academic council encouraged faculty members to positively contribute towards the advancement of the university in its new phase of development and promote collaboration with other universities and national institutions. He emphasized developing a strategic academic and research plan of the university keeping in view the changing academic and industrial requirements in a globally competitive skills market. He said that student feedback must be accorded priority in designing all services and academic plans. Prof. Afzal called for a transformative change in the culture of governance and directed all academic offices to abide by all relevant rules and regulations in running the affairs of the university. Furthermore Prof. Afzal underscored the need for addressing the Sustainable Development Agenda in all the applied research projects of the university and called on researchers to focus on applied research. Among the key issues deliberated upon and approved in the academic council were aligning of rules and regulations in line with HEC guidelines, launching of new programs of study at both graduate and undergraduate levels, revised grading criteria consistent with HEC recommendations and amendments to academic regulations dealing with the emerging situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Academic Council resolved on improving quality in academic and research programs and enhancing research productivity of CUI. Deans of Faculties, Directors of Campuses, Chairpersons of Departments, Professors and Bearers of Statutory Offices of CUI participated in the meeting and contributed towards various agenda points.