Contemplation: VCs to discuss varsities’ issues, challenges today

Will discuss governance, quality, financing and issues of perks.

ISLAMABAD: Vice chancellors of around 60 universities will meet on Saturday (today) to discuss issues of institutional governance and quality in the countries higher education institutes.

The meeting has a four point agenda: consisting governance, quality assurance, financing and variance of perks and privileges of universities’ heads.

The VCs committee, comprising public and private higher education institutions’ heads, holds a yearly meeting to contemplate and decide on emerging challenges and demands in the sector.

Speaking of the issues faced by different educational institutions, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said we have planned to complete all pending development projects for the last five years or more with the help of an additional Rs7 billion fund approved by the Planning Commission. Issues including clearance of backlog of development schemes and substandard Mphil and PhD programmes at some universities are also going to be addressed, he added.

Teachers are being given the responsibilities of registrar, deputy registrar, audit officers and other senior staff in major universities, which in turn has compromised education quality.

Ahmed has been discussing the issues of mismanagement of resources, finances and appointment of faculty on merit at different forums.

The National Assembly recently passed a resolution regarding the establishment of a university in every district of the country, for which HEC has completed the mapping process. The chairperson further said that construction of illegal campuses without NOCs and geo-mapping of new universities will also be discussed.

University of Haripur VC Dr Nasir Ali Khan said a delay in formulation of selection board, and varsities’ council effect both academic and administrative activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2015.