The public sector universities have refused to synchronise their academic calendar year throughout the country, asking the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to get it done at secondary and higher secondary schools levels, in the first place, sources told Business Recorder.
They said that the universities were given the choice by HEC to synchronise the calendar year either from September/October or from January/February, citing that this is the practice across the world. However, the vice chancellors said that uniformity in results of SSC and HSC levels had to be achieved before synchronising the calendar year at higher level.
"To do that, you have to synchronise at secondary and higher secondary levels for which you have to consult with the provinces" some of the vice chancellors said. Moreover, the participants from Quetta, AJK, and Northern Areas (NAs) expressed their reservations, saying that HEC proposal of same academic calendar was practicable for their areas due to different climatic conditions.
The suggestion, for standardisation of academic season throughout the country, was to start with two semesters per year, either from the first week of September or February, with 16-week teaching. The issue to rationalise the non-uniformity in the duration of various studies programs, especially at the undergraduate level, also came under discussion, but participants came up with different opinions.
As a result, no decision was taken and the issue was left open asking the HEC to provide guidelines for replacing two-year bachelor program in science and arts with one of four years. The HEC was also asked to rationalise the communication problems of foreign faculty (from non-English speaking countries) by making English language competence test compulsory.
The universities also wanted special quota in foreign scholarships for underdeveloped areas, especially for FATA. Sources said that HEC made it clear that it would not compromise on quality, demanding that the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) in academic field and research activities/program of university should be introduced.
It said that quality assurance in teaching and research was imperative for universities and would not be compromised. The universities were asked to impart high quality training to students during their degree programs.