cooperation of all stakeholders, we will be able to overcome these challenges.”
Being head of various HEC committees during last 10 years, including National Committee on Development of Social Sciences, he said that he has the experience working with HEC and we would learn from the best practices of various federal counties as well as HEC especially from those professionals who were part of parcel of various HEC initiatives.
“I look forward to cordial relationship with HEC, other provincial higher education set ups and departments and joint collaborative efforts for cause of higher education in Pakistan. We would complement one another’s efforts.”
He said that provincial higher education assessment system would be introduced as per international and national standards. “We would also like to address the specific needs and requirements of the Punjab. There would not be any comprise on merit and quality.”
In order to strengthen and meeting the growing needs of higher education sector in the province, the Punjab government promulgated Punjab Higher Education Commission Ordinance on October 2, 2014 to provide for the creation of Punjab Higher Education Commission.
The ordinance was presented at provincial assembly of the Punjab and handed over to the Education Standing Committee for further deliberations. The committee suggested certain amendments in the bill including inclusion of college education, important pillar of Tertiary Education under the preview of Punjab HEC and nomination of representative of colleges in PHEC board. The provincial assembly of the Punjab passed PHEC bill on December 29, 2014.
The newly formed Punjab HEC will be a supportive and facilitative body for strengthening higher education in the province commencing from grade 12.
According to the Act, the chairperson of PHEC shall be the chief executive officer of the commission who will be responsible for all administrative, financial and academic functions of the commission.
As per the prescribed 26 functions, the commission has been authorised to formulate guidelines under which public and private institutions may be opened & operated in the province, cause monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the institutions, undertake various faculty development programs and preparing plans for development of higher education sector and take measures including allocation of funds for award of fellowships, scholarships, travel and research grants etc. Dr. Nizamuddin said that soon a meeting of all vice chancellors would be held in Lahore.