Varsity rankings: HEC invites feedback on revised criteria

New policy to be finalised after universities give their opinion.

ISLAMABAD:

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has invited feedback from universities regarding its revised criteria for rankings.

The commission has revised the criterion to address concerns expressed by universities in the last two rankings carried out by the commission.

“Due consideration has been given in the revised criteria to the comments and recommendations received from the universities based on the earlier rankings,” said a statement.

The HEC, in the past, has been criticised by several universities for “unjustified” rankings and several other lacunas in the process.

The HEC had also announced to outsource the ranking to a private body for independent and transparent results to fend off the criticism or allegations of bias.



“The commission has also conducted a thorough review of the ranking process to enhance transparency in the future rankings. The rankings provide one of the mechanisms for the assessment of quality of teaching and research in the country and ensure the enhancement of quality of higher education through healthy competition between universities,” the statement reads.

The ranking criteria have been developed keeping in view the needs of higher education in Pakistan and are based on several factors including adherence to quality assurance in the appointment of faculty members, faculty development, student intake, quality of MS/MPhil and PhD programmes.

HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said the criteria for the next ranking will be finalised based on the feedback received from the universities.

“Feedback from universities is important to ensure that the rankings are more meaningful and useful for all stakeholders.

It should truly reflect the quality of teaching and research in Pakistan’s institutions of higher learning,” said the chairman.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2014.