Confronted with shortage of funds, vice chancellors (VCs) of public sector universities will meet on Tuesday to explore alternative means of income without taxing students.
Since the government has sliced funds for education in the last two years, higher education institutions have been caught up in a financial crisis. They will also try to evolve a mechanism for good governance in universities and discuss issues related to quality assurance, research and development as well as future planning.
The VCs’ recommendations will be shared with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and other stakeholders as well as with international donors. Partnership with the private sector and soliciting donations are two ways to improve education opportunities.
Universities are unable to cater to the rising demand for higher education as a result of which students transfer to the private sector or drop out.
The HEC has not established new universities because of low allocation of funds, Rs29 billion against the Rs45 billion it had asked for. Many ongoing research and development projects have also been suspended or delayed. The government allocates less than two per cent of the budget for education.
“We are coming together at a brainstorming session to improve income generation, said Quaid-i-Azam University VC Dr Masoom Yasinzai, while talking to The Express Tribune.
The British Council will hold a meeting with newly-appointed VCs on July 14 to15, to train them on good governance and implementation of effective policies in universities.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2011.
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