Higher Education Commission is implementing a unique programme to hire 300 foreign faculty members each year for the next 5 years to fill the vast gap of qualified research academics and Ph.D. supervisors in the higher education sector in Pakistan.
According to an official source, under national Higher Education Policy, government has initiated a unique programme to recruit highly qualified faculty from abroad for rendering services in graduate research programmes in different public sector universities/institutions in Pakistan. Applicants are invited for positions of Foreign Professor-I, Foreign Professor-II and Foreign Professor-III in all fields, and particularly in academic disciplines related to science, technology and engineering.
The duration of the contract will be at least 1-year, and may be extended.
The goal of this programme is to hire 300 foreign faculty members each year for the next 5 years to fill the vast gap of qualified research academics and Ph.D. supervisors in the higher education sector in Pakistan.
Foreign faculty members, who will bring tremendous wealth of knowledge and research experience, will be expected to impart a modern and progressive outlook to research-based academic programmes in Pakistani universities, and would set norms of international academic standards to be emulated by their local colleagues.
Furthermore, the project will generate linkages between local and foreign institutions, encouraging long-term sustainable scientific collaborations. Foreign faculty members will be expected to supervise world-class graduate level research and deliver cutting-edge graduate level courses in their academic disciplines. HEC will ensure the provision of funds for supporting graduate students and associated research expenses. In the long-term, the goal is to uplift the graduate programme in Pakistani universities and bring them up to international standards.
To attract foreign faculty members, a comprehensive package has been announced, in addition to the various mechanisms already available for procuring research grants, research infrastructure and other support from the HEC. The consolidated salary package for a foreign faculty hired under this programme ranges from Rs 78,750 to Rs 250, 000 per month (average approximately US $2500 per month).
Foreign Professor-I: Rs 183,750 - 257,250 per month (approximately $3100 - $4300 US per month), Foreign Professor-II: Rs 120,750 - 181,125 per month (app. 2000 -3000 US per month), Foreign Professor-III: Rs 78,750-136,500 per month (approximately $1300 -$2275 US per month).