Higher Education Commission (HEC) will expand its Ph.D scholarship programme and establish more universities across the country to promote higher education. This was stated by Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Javed R Laghari at a briefing held on Friday after concluding of the two-day `5th Vice Chancellors Committee Meeting'.
Presently, the commission extends Ph.D scholarships to 1000 students in country and abroad and the country produces 20 percent Ph.D faculty, which is not sufficient. Some countries are producing more than 70 percent Ph.Ds, the chairman said and assured that the existing strength would bedoubled in the next coming years.
Chairman HEC informed that Ph.D scholarship programme would be expanded and strengthened for the uplift of education standards in the country. Around 128 degree awarding universities are operating across the country but still 5 percent students enter in the universities due to shortage of universities, departments and space.
More universities will be established across the country to accommodate those students who are compelled to resume their higher education at colleges, Laghari said. HEC will establish more linkages among the universities and involve the students of universities in community services. Besides, the transparency and accountability will be ensured in all procedures, he said.
HEC is spending 40 to 45 percent funds on human resource management and the commission will further take steps for the promotion of higher studies in the country. Upholding commitment to end gender disparities, HEC is establishing two women universities, one in Multan and other in Sukkur, he said.
The government commitment to raise the education budget from 2.4 to 7 percent of GDP till the year 2015 is a very crucial step to improve the infrastructure, he observed. Vice Chancellors of public and private universities who attended the conference pledged to enhance teaching quality and research.
The annual event provided an opportunity to the university heads to share their experiences and streamline the processes to synergise the working of entire higher education sector. The VCs expressed solidarity in upholding HEC's mission to bring about socio-economic change and empower the country by providing world class graduates.
They resolved that the culture of transparency and merit would be further strengthened in the higher education sector, with a special focus on under-developed areas of the country. They appreciated Chairman HEC's commitment to expand the existing programmes of HEC, besides launching new initiatives.
Lauding initiatives of HEC during the last seven years' the VCs said that Pakistan has the vibrant university sector where research has been recognised as a key responsibility of the university due to HEC's efforts. The country has now an internationally compatible academic system in place. They said that HEC would ensure that private institutions and affiliated colleges were also given special attention to streamline the entire higher education sector.