Aiming high: PHEC to focus on college education, teacher training
Commission seeks Rs4.25 billion for 2015-16 projects.
PHEC Chairman Dr.Muhammad Nizamuddin. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) aims to launch 10 initiatives in 2015-16, for which it has sought Rs4.25 billion.
The initiatives were finalised during the first meeting of the PHEC on Wednesday.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PHEC Chairman Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin said the proposed initiatives would focus on revamping college education, establishment of training academies for faculty members and higher education research grants for teachers posted in remote areas.
The commission has sought a Rs1.1 billion recurring grant and a Rs3.15 billion development grant.
The initiatives proposed under the recurring grant include internships, placement and career development, travel and training grants for workshops and seminars along with grants for the PHEC secretariat and its operational costs. Rs240 million has been sought in research grants for universities.
The development grant initiatives include civil works and infrastructure development, human resource development and a grant for Punjab Digital Library. This includes Rs65 million for faculty training academies.
The first PHEC meeting was attended by 12 out of 16 members. Three of the members were out of the country. The federal HEC member was absent. The PHEC chairman said that the federal member had been invited.
A report of the PHEC’s performance over the past five months was presented at the meeting.
The meeting approved the formation of a committee for restructuring and reforming college education. The three-member committee is headed by Lahore University of Management Sciences vice chancellor Sohail Naqvi and includes Home Economics College Principal Samia Kalsoom and the PHEC academics director.
Two committees were formed for the selection and recruitment of staff for the PHEC and the formulation of PHEC’s statutes. These are chaired by University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (r) Muhammad Aslam and Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Akram Khan respectively.
“The government wants to focus on strengthening college education,” Dr Nizamuddin said. He said that the meeting had also discussed improving academia-industry links. “We have sought recommendations from Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ijaz Ahmad, who is also a member of the PHEC,” he said.
“The PHEC wants to focus on workshops and seminars to promote a culture of research in higher education and faculty development. The faculty development academies will train teachers before they start their professional careers. Allocations have also been proposed for setting up libraries in colleges in remote areas. An initiative to provide 200 PhD scholarships is also under discussion,” he said.
Nizamuddin said that the initiatives did not overlap with the federal HEC’s projects. He said that that there was no conflict between the two bodies. “The federal HEC will continue to provide guidance in terms of standardisation and establishment of higher education norms,” he said.
At the next meeting, policies will be formulated in line with the PHEC Act.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.
The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) aims to launch 10 initiatives in 2015-16, for which it has sought Rs4.25 billion.
The initiatives were finalised during the first meeting of the PHEC on Wednesday.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PHEC Chairman Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin said the proposed initiatives would focus on revamping college education, establishment of training academies for faculty members and higher education research grants for teachers posted in remote areas.
The commission has sought a Rs1.1 billion recurring grant and a Rs3.15 billion development grant.
The initiatives proposed under the recurring grant include internships, placement and career development, travel and training grants for workshops and seminars along with grants for the PHEC secretariat and its operational costs. Rs240 million has been sought in research grants for universities.
The development grant initiatives include civil works and infrastructure development, human resource development and a grant for Punjab Digital Library. This includes Rs65 million for faculty training academies.
The first PHEC meeting was attended by 12 out of 16 members. Three of the members were out of the country. The federal HEC member was absent. The PHEC chairman said that the federal member had been invited.
A report of the PHEC’s performance over the past five months was presented at the meeting.
The meeting approved the formation of a committee for restructuring and reforming college education. The three-member committee is headed by Lahore University of Management Sciences vice chancellor Sohail Naqvi and includes Home Economics College Principal Samia Kalsoom and the PHEC academics director.
Two committees were formed for the selection and recruitment of staff for the PHEC and the formulation of PHEC’s statutes. These are chaired by University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (r) Muhammad Aslam and Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Akram Khan respectively.
“The government wants to focus on strengthening college education,” Dr Nizamuddin said. He said that the meeting had also discussed improving academia-industry links. “We have sought recommendations from Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ijaz Ahmad, who is also a member of the PHEC,” he said.
“The PHEC wants to focus on workshops and seminars to promote a culture of research in higher education and faculty development. The faculty development academies will train teachers before they start their professional careers. Allocations have also been proposed for setting up libraries in colleges in remote areas. An initiative to provide 200 PhD scholarships is also under discussion,” he said.
Nizamuddin said that the initiatives did not overlap with the federal HEC’s projects. He said that that there was no conflict between the two bodies. “The federal HEC will continue to provide guidance in terms of standardisation and establishment of higher education norms,” he said.
At the next meeting, policies will be formulated in line with the PHEC Act.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.