PHEC concerned at HEC’s affiliation policy, calls for provincial mandate

LAHORE:The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has expressed reservations about the Institutional Affiliation/Constituent Colleges Policy, 2023, introduced by the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad.

In a letter addressed to the HEC, Dr. Muhammad Mumtaz Ali Khan, Director of Accreditation at PHEC, listed discrepancies between the HEC policy and the Provincial Higher Education policy. The letter said that the HEC’s policy had overlooked the role and mandate of the PHEC as defined by the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

According to the PHEC, the amendment grants specific authority to provinces, making it the prerogative of the PHEC to oversee higher education affairs in Punjab. The PHEC contended that the HEC’s policy infringed on this mandate and requested for amendments to the Institutional Affiliation/Constituent Colleges Policy including the requirement for universities in Punjab to seek a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Punjab Higher Education Commission for affiliating colleges and institutes.

It also proposed that universities could only affiliate with educational institutions within the geographic boundaries of the division where the affiliating university is situated. Additionally, the PHEC suggested that programmeme accreditation from the relevant Accreditation Council and approval from PHEC should be mandatory for affiliation with any programme.

One of PHEC’s main reservations pertains to the establishment of constituent colleges with minimal land (2 or 4 kanals) by universities, particularly on leased land, as outlined in the HEC policy.

PHEC expressed concern that such a provision could lead to an excessive proliferation of colleges, potentially compromising the quality of education due to limited space and inadequate infrastructure.

The PHEC proposed the convening of a joint meeting or sitting to discuss affiliation matters and constituent colleges, seeking a consensus among stakeholders and collective wisdom to make informed decisions for the improvement of higher education in the country and specifically in the province.