Research culture needed for academic growth, says VC KU

Karachi
Research culture plays a pivotal role in the academic growth and development of universities. The teachers are the guardians of the educational system and the nation justifiably has high hopes attached with them, the vice-chancellor of the University of Karachi, Professor Dr Muhammad Qaiser, said on Tuesday.
While speaking at the annual function of Karachi University Teachers’ Society at the Shaikh Zayed Research Centre Auditorium, he said modernisation of the educational system could play a significant role in fulfilling social and economic goals.
“Teachers are a prime asset to the KU,” he said. “During my tenure as the vice-chancellor, record numbers of selection boards are held and the varsity despite suffering from financial crisis is putting all efforts to provide better and better facilities to the teachers.”
Dr Qaiser lambasted the HEC and the provincial government by saying that the grants provided to the university from the HEC were not in accordance with the varsity’s salary and pension structure, while the Sindh government despite several commitments in the past provided appropriate funds to all the varsities of the metropolis, except the KU.
He said that due to the worsening financial situation of the university, it was understandable that the academicians must be facing issues; however, as the teachers were also the guardians of the university`s reputation, the financial matters must be discussed at consultative forums rather than involving any third party.
President KUTS Professor Dr Jamil Kazmi presented the annual performance report.
He said that on the issue of advertisements of the posts of the registrar and th controller of examinations by the Sindh government, KUTS played a leading role in mustering support against the move.
“The government was forced to withdraw the advertisement which was indeed a significant achievement for the greater welfare of the universities all over Sindh.”
KUTS has also played its significant role in the withdrawal of the condition of post PhD experience for the teachers and for the provision of economic assistance to the families of the martyred teachers, including Dr Shakeel Auj and Dr Waheed-ur-Rehman, he said.