Private varsities told to be ready for quality check
Meeting discusses faculty shortage and land requirements
PHOTO: FILE
Higher Education Commission has hinted at hiring third party evaluators to check the quality of education being imparted at institutes of higher education in order to secure the rights of the students.
People pay fees for acquiring degrees from universities and have every right to be secure in lieu of authenticity of the degree, affiliation of the varsity, and the quality of education they get against the payment.
In this regard HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuria held a consultative meeting with vice chancellors and rectors of the private sector Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).
The meeting reviewed difficulties faced by private sector universities mainly regarding the nature of governance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and explore avenues of strengthening HEIs’ capacity through streamlining of their financial management.
Higher education body’s budget slashed by 50%
Dr Banuri apprised the participants of the inspection calendar developed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) so that universities are in a better position to meet the minimum HEC standards well in time.
The participants also discussed at length potential solutions to a range of other issues including, statutory requirements, land requirement, faculty requirement, affiliated colleges and sub-campuses, media alerts and business model.
Education for all
Dr Banuri was also sympathetic about the matter of issuing parental alerts and he requested the participants to help the HEC develop protocols of issuing media alerts. During the meeting, the HEC chairman also shared concerns regarding the quality of education and sustainability of the HEIs in long term perspective.
The chairman further stressed on the need to identify possible solutions of these problems without compromising the core goals of access, quality, and relevance and the protection of students’ rights for which services of a third party such as a consultative firm may also be taken where required.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2019.
People pay fees for acquiring degrees from universities and have every right to be secure in lieu of authenticity of the degree, affiliation of the varsity, and the quality of education they get against the payment.
In this regard HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuria held a consultative meeting with vice chancellors and rectors of the private sector Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).
The meeting reviewed difficulties faced by private sector universities mainly regarding the nature of governance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and explore avenues of strengthening HEIs’ capacity through streamlining of their financial management.
Higher education body’s budget slashed by 50%
Dr Banuri apprised the participants of the inspection calendar developed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) so that universities are in a better position to meet the minimum HEC standards well in time.
The participants also discussed at length potential solutions to a range of other issues including, statutory requirements, land requirement, faculty requirement, affiliated colleges and sub-campuses, media alerts and business model.
Education for all
Dr Banuri was also sympathetic about the matter of issuing parental alerts and he requested the participants to help the HEC develop protocols of issuing media alerts. During the meeting, the HEC chairman also shared concerns regarding the quality of education and sustainability of the HEIs in long term perspective.
The chairman further stressed on the need to identify possible solutions of these problems without compromising the core goals of access, quality, and relevance and the protection of students’ rights for which services of a third party such as a consultative firm may also be taken where required.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2019.