Higher Education Commission (HEC) has successfully placed 415 Pakistani PhDs as Assistant Professors at 66 public and private sector universities across the country. The task has been accomplished through HEC Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP) Programme.
The specific faculty requirements of the host institutions and the priority of returning scholars were duly taken into consideration prior to every placement so that the services of the PhD scholars are optimally utilised by HEC.
It is important to mention here that the programme has also attracted non-HEC scholars. Out of 415, 168 are non-HEC scholars who have benefited from the IPFP programme. Among the new universities brought on board this year are mostly young HEIs such as Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, College of Business Management, Karachi, Karakorum International University, Gilgit, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Hazara University, Mansehra, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, AJK, National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering, Faisalabad, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, Sarhad University of Information Technology, Peshawar, University of Gujrat, University of Science and Technology, Bannu and University of Wah.
The placed scholars belong to diversified fields like Solid State Physics, Poultry and Animal Nutrition, Fisheries, Intelligent Systems and Robotics, Geophysics, Rural Developments, Pathology, Toxicology, Water Resource Engineering, Environmental Science, Business Administration, Anatomy, Genetics, MEMS, Anthropology, Psychology, Veterinary Science, Urban Planning, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Textiles, International Relations, Gender Issues, Islamic Studies, Education and Physical Sciences.
The scholars have been initially employed for a period of one year on a salary package of rupees 80,000 per month. HEC also offers these scholars a start-up research grant of Rs 0.5 million immediately upon joining the host institution. This serves as an impetus for the scholars to excel in their fields and secure permanent positions ahead.
During the IPFP contract period, these scholars are given an opportunity to compete for regular posts advertised by the universities for securing a permanent position on open merit through normal selection process. So far, 179 Assistant Professors have also been provided with the start-up research grant out of a total 231 who had applied for this grant.
While HEC is consistently determined to provide opportunities to the aspiring talented scholars to pursue higher degrees, it is also accelerating the IPFP programme for placement of these scholars to overcome skilled faculty shortage at academic and research institutions of the country.-PR