MPhil, PhD minimum standards: HEC to check implementation status of guidelines

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Monday decided to accelerate evaluation process designed to check status of implementation of its guidelines of minimum standards to be met for MPhil and PhD studies at universities.
The decision was taken by the Quality Assurance Agency at a meeting, presided by Dr Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director, HEC. In 2005, the HEC provided the universities with guidelines designed for minimum standards for PhD studies. These are adopted by the universities after having approval from the respective statutory bodies.
According to the criterion chalked out by the HEC, a candidate should have 16 years of schooling or four years education after FA/FSc (130 credit hours) for admission to MPhil/MS leading to PhD programme. After having an admission, the candidates will have to obtain a minimum of CGPA 3 in 30 credit course work before being admitted to PhD programme.
The scholar will also have to appear in a GRE subject or its equivalent if GRE is not available in that subject as well as a comprehensive exam during the PhD studies. Thesis has to be evaluated by at least two experts from technologically advanced countries and at least one research paper is required to be published in an HEC approved journal.
Dr Naqvi said these measures are essential for improving of quality of education, to have uniformity and compatibility with international standards. He said the first round of reviews to determine the implementation status has been completed and deficiencies identified. In order to continue with the review process, three committees of eminent educationists have been constituted by the HEC to help accelerate the review process covering the regions of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, NWFP, Islamabad and AJ&K, he added.
The meeting agreed that the universities should implement the criteria in letter and spirit and to prove baseline date for verification to these committees through on-site visits.