HEC warns against nepotism in varsities

HEC ordinance bars the commission from punishing universities that are flouting the rules

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has warned universities in the country to avoid nepotism and favouritism in the appointment of top faculty and administrative staff. Such appointments are hampering ratings and standards as well as the governance of universities, it said.

A letter sent on June 30 to all public and private sector universities was issued due to the dismal rankings achieved by Pakistani universities at the national and international levels.

The letter titled ‘observance of guidelines and criteria for appointment of officers of the universities…’ states that there is a ‘sizeable gap’ between the academic practices of Pakistani varsities when compared with international academic, research and quality standard.

It further states that “[in local varsities] the degree of variance in quality of academic, research and governance is far and wide.” This is the  responsibility of each and every higher education institution to equally observe the minimum quality standards prescribed by HEC it added.

Internationally, a downwards trend was witnessed after Pakistani varsities failed to make it to the top 100 in Asia in the recent Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) rankings. Quaid-i-Azam University, which is the leading university in HEC’s ranking, has fallen from 116th to 149th in the recent Asian rankings which were released in June.

Unless, merit, transparency and quality compliance is not implemented equally and without exception, the HEC said, Pakistan’s overall higher education performance and rating will remain short of public expectations and international standards.

It further states that it has been observed that some of these varsities ‘do not pay attention’ to academic, management and leadership requirements while appointing vice chancellors’, rectors, deans and chairpersons of departments.

HEC believes that compromises are made in the appointments of top positions including registrar, treasurer and controller of examinations. The letter also addressed nepotism saying that compromises are also made for family and people connected with professional fields in qualification, experience, academic and other areas for appointment.

The HEC says that it, “hampers growth and progress of an institution, blots its quality ratings and sets unhealthy precedence for others.”

Not that easy

A recent survey carried out by the HEC also underscores loopholes in quality, faculty appointment and other issues in over 150 universities.

The commission has been demanding that there should be merit but there have been instances where the varsities have appointed several faculty and non-faculty members on political pressures.

The post of controller of examinations, treasurer and registrar is mostly given to those who have no experience in such matters, leading to financial loss and creates a negative impact on several forums for the varsities.

Due to the loopholes in the HEC ordinance the commission cannot punish the varsities which are flouting and sidestepping and can just issue warnings.

Last year, a Senate body had told them to send recommendations for amendment of the HEC ordinance in order to empower them in implementing their rules and penalising those do not bother to abide by the same.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2016.