Change of rules in hiring process in universities sparks suspicions of favouritism

Universities dept halts VC candidates’ interviews to raise age limit, introduces test for finance director candidates

KARACHI: It appears that certain officials in the Sindh Universities and Boards Department may be attempting to influence the appointment of vice-chancellors and finance directors in the province’s public universities.

After failing to persuade the selection committee of one university to halt interviews of short-listed candidates, the department has pulled the plug on the entire hiring process in order to raise the age limit for a ‘favoured’ contender, sources from the higher education circles revealed.

The alleged manipulation came to light during the hiring process for the Shaheed Benazirabad-based Peoples University of Medical and Health Science for Women (PUMHSW) vice-chancellor. According to sources, the universities department first tried to convince the selection committee to stop interviews of candidates already short-listed for the post. When the committee refused to comply, the department ordered the cessation of the entire process and re-advertised the position.



In the new ad, the age limit for the PUMHSW vice-chancellor was increased from 62 years to 65 years, sources said. However, the age limit increase was not limited to just one university. The change was made for all public universities in Sindh, meaning that those with vacant vice-chancellor posts had to re-advertise the positions as well.

Sindh higher education sources alleged that the entire sequence of events was orchestrated from the Chief Minister House. According to them, the ‘favoured’ candidate was the one who convinced the CM House officials to get the universities department to halt the interview process for PUMHSW vice-chancellor.

Meanwhile, the universities department has also decided to conduct a written test before interviews for candidates vying for finance director posts in public universities, sources said. The test will be conducted by IBA Karachi on July 28. Near 400 candidates are set to take part in the exam which seeks to test their general knowledge.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior Sindh government officer and public university finance director said there was no announcement of a test when the finance director positions were advertised. At the time, it was understood that a selection committee would pick a candidate for appointment, he said. The candidates that The Express Tribune spoke to also complained that there was no precedent for holding a test before the interview. They added that they were considering taking the matter to court.



When contacted, Universities and Boards Department Secretary Riazuddin denied the changes in the appointment processes for vice-chancellors and finance directors were motivated by favouritism. “We increased the age-limit to increase competition. That is what the government decided,” he insisted.

Regarding the test for finance director candidates, Riaz said the decision was taken to ascertain merit. “Anyone who objects to taking the test is free to approach the court,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2019.