PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has issued warning letters to 18 out of 24 private universities of the province for carrying out unapproved degree programmes.
Thousands of students have been reportedly enrolled in the suspicious degree programmes of the private universities. Fifteen of the 18 higher education institutions running the unapproved programmes are situated in Lahore. The private universities offering unapproved BS, MS, MPhil and PhD degree programmes include Hajveri University, Beaconhouse National University, Garrison University, University of South Asia, Institute of Southern Punjab and National College of Business Administration and Economics, Global Institute in Lahore; Hi Tech University in Taxila, University of Wah Cantt and University of Faisalabad. Objecting on the programmes, the PHEC has issued warning letters against the universities.
The BBA programme offered by Beaconhouse National University Lahore has not been approved after which students have been warned against taking admissions in it. On the other side, the biology, zoology, geography and statistics departments of Lahore Garrison University have also been declared illegal while its social science faculty departments of mass communication, Islamic studies, political science, international relations, education, home economics and management sciences faculty department of commerce and economics are also operating in violation of HEC rules.
In addition, degrees issued by the departments of Urdu, computer science, environmental sciences, microbiology, botany, zoology, biochemistry and biotechnology would also not be approved by the HEC.
In University of South Asia Lahore, the bachelors degree programmes for civil and electrical engineering and programmes offered by departments of physiotherapy, food and nutrition sciences, biotechnology, microbiology, environmental sciences, molecular biology, bioinformatics and biochemistry are also unapproved.
In addition, the varsity’s human resources, musicology, language, language and literature, English, pharmacy, Urdu and department of Fashion design are also declared illegal.
Programmes banned in Institute of Southern Punjab include Islamic studies, international relations, Urdu, engineering and technology, computer sciences and information technology and civil, electrical and mechanical engineering.
In Lahore’s National College of Business Administration and Economics, degree programs for psychology, sociology, Islamic studies, history, political sciences, mass communication, geography, law, English, technology and education and MS program for environmental management are banned.
In Taxila’s Hi Tech University, BSc programmes from medical ultrasound technology, virology, molecular pathology, post professional doctor of optometry and bachelor of architecture, bachelor of fine arts and bachelor of fashion, textile, product and interior design and English department degrees are declared illegal while its bachelor economics, accounting and finance, Urdu, Islamic studies, Pakistan studies, law, aviation management, technology, media studies and biological sciences programs while degree programmes of media studies, accounting and finance, electronics, civil, chemical and telecom engineering are also banned.
In University of Faisalabad, the banned programmes include those offered by department of interior design, engineering, pharmacy, medicine and allied health sciences, nursing, radiology, pathology, community medicine and dental sciences.
In Global Institute Lahore, banned programs include technology management, mechanical technology management, electronics technology management, BTech and BS for IT, computer sciences, and management information technology.
The aforementioned universities had not obtained any approval from the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Engineering Council and provincial chancellors of universities.
The provincial higher education regulator has instructed the universities to make contact with it by September 26 and explain their position on the said programs and take immediate steps to address objections identified by HEC. In addition, the students have been advised not to take admissions in the said programmes of the universities.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2018.
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