Dual graduate degree programme: AGP asked to hold audit of 2.5 million pound sterling charged by CIIT

A parliamentary panel on Thursday directed the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to hold a special audit of 2.5 million pound sterling, charged by COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) for launching illegal dual graduate degree programme. Public Accounts Committee (PAC) while suspending examination of the Audit report of Ministry of Finance for year 2010-11, took the matter of 2550 enrolled students of CIIT who were awarded the dual degree of BSc. (Computer Sciences), BS (Electrical Telecom Engineering) and Bs (Business Administration) which is not recognised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Rector CIIT, Dr Syed Muhammad Junaid Zaidi admitted before the committee that in 2009, CIIT launched a dual degree programme in collaboration with Lancaster University (LU). However, the institution did not use right channels to approve the degree from the HEC and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). He said the management of CIIT had written letters for permission of degree programme from HEC and programme were started assuming HEC would have no objection. However, responding to question of PAC member Sheikh Rohail Asghar, he replied that no representative of HEC was informed about the signing of dual degree programme with Lancaster University and applications were invited from students through advertisement, he added.
The committee observed that the situation has put the future of over 2,550 students who have completed the programme in danger. Further details reveal that 130 students who have graduated are yet to receive the dual degrees. They have received the LU degree but not the dual degree.
As per the CIIT, HEC has not allowed the institute for awarding any such degree. The institute charged fees from both local and foreign student fee 2000 pounds sterling which is 40 percent higher than the local degree fee. HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed informed the committee that the HEC had not been consulted when CIIT launched the programme. He said the commission was informed in 2013 that COMSATS had started the programme and was charging £2,000 per student.
Dr Mukhtar further said that UK's education council did not recognise CIIT's degree and that when Lancaster University was contacted, the HEC learnt the British university only awards an MS degree after completion of five years of study, while CIIT was offering the degree after only four years of study. "The HEC has found that COMSAT' courses were only taught by their own academic staff and no Lancaster University teachers was involved", he added. Dr Mukhtar agreed to recognise the degree awarded by CIIT on the condition that HEC would not accept the foreign degree of UK University and the dual degree programme should be suspended till the NOC from HEC is awarded.