Smart classrooms: Seven varsities set to go digital

Chairperson says unapproved campuses hinder higher education sector’s growth.

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is all set to turn seven major public sector universities into ‘smart campuses’, with digital classrooms and free Wi-Fi.

The HEC invited tenders for the smart universities project on April 30 and bidding is scheduled for May 26, HEC Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said in an interview with The Express Tribune on Tuesday, ahead of the two-day Express Education and Career Expo. The expo opens today (Wednesday) at the Pak-China Friendship Centre.

About a PML-N promise to set up a university in each district, Ahmed said the HEC has asked provincial governments to identify districts that need a campus. The HEC then sent the proposals to the government for consideration in the upcoming budget.

The seven varsities included in the smart universities project are University of the Punjab, University of Karachi, University of Peshawar, University of Balochistan, Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, and Karakoram International University in Gilgit.

While there has been a significant increase in the number of universities and graduates, the HEC chief said the universities need to improve the quality of education and governance. “Poor quality education and research is directly affecting the output of these institutes,” he said.

Ahmed said the HEC is also planning to start a split-doctorate programme for non-PhD faculty members at universities. Under the programme, a faculty member would start their PhD at one university and complete it at another in Pakistan or abroad.

He said that of the 76 higher education projects slated for the current fiscal year, the commission has completed 37. He said the reason for this was backlog of projects from previous years.

The chairperson said that unapproved university campuses are a real hindrance for quality university education. He said the commission will deal with institutes working without HEC approval radically and will not compromise on standards.

About the Express Education and Career Expo, Ahmed said it is an encouraging initiative. “Such events create awareness among the youth and provide them with education and job opportunities,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2015.