VCs urged to prioritise quality of education

LAHORE

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed on Monday urged the Vice-Chancellors (VCs) and heads of public and private universities/higher education institutions (HEIs) that quality of higher education should be their top priority while planning for further expansion and development.

He was addressing the Vice-Chancellors’ Committee meeting that began at a local hotel here on Monday. Over 120 heads of public and private universities are attending the three-day meeting. 

Dr Mukhtar Ahmed reviewed year’s performance, challenges and issues to set target for the next year. While comparing current budget of around Rs80 billion with that of Rs35 billion in 2010-11, he said there was a remarkable increase in funding for higher education, though still low as compared to developing countries. He appreciated the government for a sustainable support to the sector and emphasised that “it is now our responsibility to prove that higher learning institutions become a real engine for country’s socio-economic growth.”

Dr Mukhtar particularly advised the private sector institutions that undoubtedly education had become a business worldwide but that should not be done at the cost of quality. “It’s my humble request that do earn millions through your institutions but do not compromise on the basic parameters because if you do so, you will endanger future of thousands of youngsters who have trusted you for acquiring good education,” he added.

He also spoke at length about mushrooming of sub-campuses as well as launching of MPhil and PhD programmes without fulfillment of minimum criteria. “If any institution violates criteria and goes ahead just for the sake of competition or increase resources, it will definitely be held accountable. Remember there are no shortcuts if we want our institutions to develop at international standards. Proper planning for resource generation and developing human resource is the key to achieve success.”

To a question regarding post-18th Amendment scenario, he said the issue was under discussion in the Council of Common Interest (CCI) that would soon decide it, keeping in view the Supreme Court’s verdict that forbids any change in higher education regulation sans change in HEC Ordinance. He however emphasised that this debate should not deflect our attention from the core issues of quality and governance that face many of our universities.

Dr Mukhtar said over the years HEC had not only considerably increased budget for research but also assured that the faculty members and researchers focus on priority areas related to our society and country’s economic challenges. He asked the university heads to take all possible measures for encouraging relevant research and allocating maximum amount for this purpose. He stressed upon them to clear plagiarism cases pending at their end and enhance efforts for eradicating the menace.

HEC Chairman highlighted various ongoing and upcoming projects of higher education sector, including establishment of technical universities, thousands of scholarships under US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor in addition to existing scholarship schemes, establishment of Centres of Excellence in Water, Energy, Food Security and Climate Change, creation of technology parks as well as many national and international partnerships for developing human resource in all fields of national importance.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Rasul Jan, Chairperson of the VCs Committee welcomed the guests and thanked them for joining the forum to deliberate the current and upcoming challenges of higher education sector. He appreciated HEC for conducting such sessions on a regular basis for input of university heads regarding different policies of the higher education sector and said, “Our sector has weaknesses as well as many achievements made during the last decade but if we, the vice-chancellors, remain united while identifying different issues and their possible solutions, I’m sure this august forum can lay foundations for changing destiny of our future generations.”

In his presentation on Institutional Performance and Programme Review, HEC Executive Director Dr Arshad Ali shared Commission’s recent initiative of visiting universities across the country, and identifying loopholes in fulfillment of various quality criteria. Appreciating HEC’s quality performance review there were calls for making the report public so that universities could correct their shortcomings.