Commission formed to probe sale of degrees in Punjab

|By Myra Imran

Islamabad: The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has formed a four-member committee to investigate the issue of sale of degrees and paid-for MS and PhD theses in the Punjab.

The issue was discussed during a visit of Chairperson Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Dr. Mohammad Nizamuddin of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan. He met Executive Director, HEC Dr. Arshad Ali at the Commission Secretariat on Thursday. The issues discussed during the meeting covered the overall development of higher education sector in the country, however the issue of sale of degrees and paid-for MS and PhD theses in the Punjab dominated the discussion.

Dr. Arshad Ali revealed that HEC has constituted a four-member committee jointly with PHEC to investigate the matter. He informed Dr. Nizam that HEC’s strategic policies regarding transnational education and distance education have been devised and are to be placed on HEC website for comments from all stakeholders.

He emphasised that the quality of university sub-campuses needs to be ensured, adding that academic programmes must be accredited before they are launched in any university or sub-campus. He stressed the need for joint efforts for development of higher education sector and promotion of research culture in the country.

Dr. Nizamuddin shed light on the areas in which HEC and PHEC can jointly collaborate. He said the higher education sector has witnessed remarkable progress which needs to be kept intact. The meeting was also attended by Director General, Administration and Coordination, HEC Awais Ahmad and Director General, HEC Farman Ullah Anjum.