The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) may face problem in getting its M Phil and Ph D programs degrees recognised from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) because of its failure to abide by the criteria.
The AIOU has recently introduced master degree, M Phil and Ph D programmes, which the Commission says are not "at par with the leading educational institutions world-wide." Moreover, the methodology of teaching, curricula, and process of assignments and paper checking was also questioned.
It may be mentioned that HEC is examining the Ph D programmes of all universities to determine which institutions are following the minimum criteria laid down by the HEC for M Phil and Ph D programmes.
HEC Chairman, in a letter to the Vice Chancellors, has categorically written that HEC would not recognise Ph D degrees of such university departments that were not following the criteria.
The HEC has also set up a Quality Assurance Committee to rank universities on the basis of education standards and criteria of HEC they maintain.
Sources told Business Recorder that HEC has written to the AIOU for improving their standards, as it was seen far below maintaining both the quality and criteria. "We have directed the AIOU management and hope for improvement" an official said.