Punjab okays VCs search panels’ reconstitution

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved the reconstitution of search committees for the appointment of vice-chancellors in 25 public sector universities, while fresh advertisements for these posts would be published.

Nonetheless, the move regarding the reconstitution of the VC search committees is likely to draw criticism from stakeholders, as the Higher Education Department (HED) of Punjab proposed many ex-civil servants as members and even as conveners of these committees.

According to documents available with The News, the Punjab HED proposed ex-civil servant Ismail Qureshi as convener, and Ms. Farkhanda Wasim, Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib (Chairman, Akhuwat Foundation), and Lt-Gen (retd) Muhammad Asghar as members of the search committee for Punjab University, Government College University (GCU) Lahore, GCU Faisalabad, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan, Islamia University, Bahawalpur (IUB), University of Gujrat, University of Education, Lahore, University of Narowal, UET Lahore, UET Taxila, Khawaja Fareed University of Information Technology, RY Khan, and Information Technology University (ITU) Lahore.

Similarly, the proposed names for the search committee for the University of Kamalia, University of Layyah, University of Bhakkar, University of Okara, University of Jhang, and Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, are Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as convener, Ms. Farkhanda Wasim Afzal, ex-civil servant Ijaz Munir, and Prof. Nizamuddin as members.

Likewise, for women's universities including Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Government College University for Women, Sialkot, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, Women University, Multan, Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) Rawalpindi, Government College Women University, Faisalabad, and University of Home Economics (UHE) Lahore, the proposed names for the search committee were Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha as convener, while ex-civil servant Capt. (retd) Zahid Saeed, Prof. Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, and principal of Kinnaird College Rukhsana David as members.

The Punjab HED secretary will act as the secretary of each search committee.

It is pertinent to mention that the Punjab HED had also proposed a minor change to the criteria for the appointment of vice-chancellors, according to which instead of 75% marks (75 points), candidates scoring a minimum of 80% marks (80 points) would be shortlisted for the interview.

Regarding the applicants who met the upper age limit of 65 years concerning the earlier process and may have now become overage, a summary moved to the Punjab HED reads, “It may further be observed that relevant identical provisions in most of the Acts/Ordinances of public sector universities enunciate that a person who is eligible and who is not more than sixty-five years of age on the last date fixed for submission of applications for the post of the Vice Chancellor may apply for the post; therefore, the proposal at para 210(iii)/ante, for allowing the applicants beyond 65 years of age, who applied in response to earlier advertisements, to compete against fresh advertisements to be published does not seem legally tenable.”

This means all such candidates would now be unable to apply afresh for these posts.

Academic circles, including university teachers and most particularly Academic Staff Associations (ASAs) of different universities, including the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), have been critical of the inclusion of non-academicians in VC search committees. They have been demanding that only academicians be part of the committees mandated to select administrative heads of public sector universities.

Talking to The News, Punjab University ASA president Dr. Amjad Magsi expressed dissatisfaction with the composition of VC search committees, saying that teachers have been advocating for the inclusion of only academicians who possess a better understanding of university affairs.

He also criticised the addition of Rukhsana David, the principal of Kinnaird College, a private institution, as a member of one of the search committees, deeming it unfortunate.

Additionally, Dr. Magsi raised concern regarding the lack of female representation on the search committee for women's universities, noting that only two members were women.