Criteria for selection of panel for ITU VC approved

LAHORE: Punjab Governor/Chancellor has approved procedure and criteria for the selection of panel for the post of Vice-Chancellor of Information Technology University (ITU), according to which besides inviting applications through advertisement, the VC Search Committee can also nominate potential qualified candidates.

According to documents available with The News, the Search Committee can also seek nominations from renowned scholars/academicians and management experts. The Committee would oversee the entire process of selection of the VC.

There will be total 100 points i.e., qualification 65 and interview 35 and only the candidates scoring 42 points (out of points for qualification) would be shortlisted for the interview.

The VC Search Committee shall comprise of not less than three and not more than five members, including a convener and at least one expert in the relevant field while Secretary of the Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab shall be the ex-officio member who will also act as secretary of the Committee.

The HED shall identify a pool of professionals, with impeccable character, integrity and stature, withthe help of Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC).

After the interview of each shortlisted candidate, the convener of the VC Search Committee shall invite the opinion of each member and shall take the average of all members’ score which is then assigned to each candidate on the basis of performance in the interview.

In case of any difference of opinion, majority viewpoint shall be considered for final allocation of interview score which will be certified by signature of all the members, read the documents.

As per the break-up of interview points, strategic vision and leadership position of the candidate will carry 10 points, knowledge pertaining to higher education 15 points and personal traits 10 points. Out of 65 points for qualification 20 points are for academic qualification, 30 points for professional and leadership experience and 15 points for publications, honours and awards.

It is pertinent to mention here that it is for the first time, a separate VC Search Committee will be constituted for each university as presently the Punjab government is looking for regular VCs for half a dozen public universities, including Punjab University.

Sources in the Higher Education Department, said a summary regarding the constitution of the VC Search Committee comprising a pool of professionals as identified by the HED and the PHEC, had already been moved for the ITU. They added another summary would soon be moved to the Cabinet Committee formed by the chief minister for approval after which the post of VC of ITU would be advertised.