Recommendations for promotion of higher education approved

A 3rd two-day meeting of the Vice Chancellors' Committee on Wednesday approved various recommendations for promotion of higher education in the country. The meeting recommended to adopt strict implementation of the plagiarism policy notified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and uploading of all successful PhD dissertations on university's website.
It was also recommended to appoint faculty members under Tenure Track System and launch new programmes in co-ordination with respective councils. It also emphasised to ensure quality assurance in programmes and academic and research standards of affiliated institutions and verify credentials of faculty, administrative staff and students. The participants were of the view that many countries have introduced a Central National System for hiring of faculty members in universities.
Under the system, all persons desirous to be hired in universities first needed to clear a test and interview and only then they could be eligible to be considered for faculty positions in different universities.
HEC Executive Director Dr Sohail Naqvi while addressing the concluding session said meeting of the Vice Chancellors' Committee was an important annual event that brought together entire leadership of the public and private sector universities.
Dr Sohail said Higher Education Commission has initiated a systematic process of reforms of a matchless scale under unprecedented financial support and patronage by the government.
"We have set a new trend with record implementation of our projects within the stipulated time period. Alumni must be regarded as 'gold mine' and their talent and experience be used in the best possible manner," he said.
He said there has been a tremendous amount of collaboration among the local and foreign universities and main focus was being given on training of faculty members. Secretary General of Association of Common Wealth Universities (ACU) Professor John Tarrant while giving a presentation said no one country or university has a monopoly of innovation and creativity.
He said Pakistan has been a part of a global system and the study of impacts of climate change was being done in association with other scientists around the world. "Although not all universities are heavily involved in research, all are responsible for a wide ranging teaching programmes," he said.
He said there were the opportunities to work together and help one another on what might be called 'big issues' of higher education studies. Professor John said Association of Common Wealth Universities (ACU) has about 500 members drawn from the Common Wealth countries and it helped its members to be more effective in all the respective areas.