PHEC has started quality evaluation of private universities: Dr Nizam

Rawalpindi 

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has taken a special initiative for quality assurance evaluation of private universities of Punjab, said Professor Dr. M Nizamuddin, chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission. 

In an interview with ‘The News’, he said currently 24 universities are in our schedule for quality assurance. This work would be completed in six months. He said: “We are also working on a proposal to appointment three province vice chancellors in all public sector universities of the province in consultation with all stakeholders. This would help produce future vice chancellors.” Following are the details of the interview:

When asked about his vision for PHEC, Dr Nizam said the commission is geared towards building a prosperous and skilled Punjab through providing quality higher education compatible with the imperatives of knowledge economy. “While the higher education system in Punjab has witnessed significant expansion and progress over the past decades, there are some fundamental issues that need to be addressed.

He said that access to education in Pakistan stands at a dismal 9-11 per cent whereas lack of trained faculty, non-relevance of university research towards socio-economic needs of the province and low priority to college education are some of the other challenges that have seeped into the system. “Transformational and innovative interventions across different levels of the higher education sector are the need of the hour,” he added.

He was of the view that with the passing of historic 18th amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan and devolution of higher education to the provinces, the commission is in a strong position to address these crucial matters. “The commission is committed to strengthen existing assets and introduce new initiatives to bring higher education at par with modern needs. Increasing equitable access is a top priority of PHEC along with bringing improvement in academic standards, focusing on research relevant to the socio-economic needs of the province and introducing mandatory faculty development programmes to improve teaching standards. PHEC also aims to support the province’s economic agenda by creating a job-ready and employable workforce through increased focus on imparting structural and technical skills by establishing community colleges and reviving the culture of reading,” he added.

“I strongly believe that higher education is the single best investment we can make in our future and hence PHEC is committed to uplifting the higher education sector in Punjab,” he added.

 Responding to a query regarding PHEC work plan & initiatives, Dr. Nizam said that the commission carried out a desk review based on available HEC, HED, Punjab Bureau of Statistics, World Bank reports and consultations with academicians, researches on the status of higher education in Punjab. In order to address the challenges identified and in accordance with the functions enunciated in PHEC Act, our special initiatives, which were endorsed by the commission members during the first meeting held on June 3, 2015.

He said that the major future endeavours of PHEC include Research Grant programme for universities and colleges, travel & training grants for workshops, seminars, conferences, and exhibitions, establishment of faculty training academies, community colleges, PHEC Education Policy & Research Cell, and for this purpose PHEC Programme Budget ( 2015-16) of Rs700 million has also been approved.

When asked about the future roadmap of PHEC, Dr Nizam said well, we are going to take special initiative in quality assurance evaluation in private universities of Punjab. Currently 24 universities are in our schedule for quality assurance. This work would be completed in six months, two high powered teams have been constituted for quality assurance visits. These teams have already visited University of Central Punjab and University of Management and Technology, Lahore. Both the universities were checked by separate teams, they have arranged their recommendations for commission’s approval.

 “Secondly, there is my proposal for three Pro-VCs’ appointment in public sector universities of the province. The chief minister of Punjab has approves my idea. But we will never oppose any idea without consultation with stakeholders,” he added.