The Commission of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Saturday took several decisions including revision of financial, administrative, quality and plagiarism rules for universities, aimed at restoring the standard of higher education and getting rid of black sheep in the sector.
The meeting of an 18-member Commission of HEC with Chairman HEC Tariq Banuri in the chair was held with a gap of 32 months where the decisions took during this period were notified. Talking to media persons, Banuri said that the HEC is facing severe financial crunch as no significant increase was made in the budget during the last three years. The government has recently cut the development budget for the higher education which would badly hit the sector.
"We have submitted a summary to the Finance Ministry while seeking the restoration of HEC development budget as well as demanded 20 percent increase in the budget to meet the financial crisis," he added. He further said that the government is in negations with the World Bank for financing to introduce major reforms in higher education. He said that several committees including the one for quality assurance accreditation have been formulated.
The HEC chairman said that earlier funds were directly coming from the government to universities with a ratio of 65 percent on enrolment basis, 20 percent for under-served areas while 15 percent on performance basis; however, the formula has been reviewed to ensure transparency and governance. These rules are being reviewed after 15 years. However, he assured that universities in the underserved areas would not be affected. He said that vice chancellors of different universities would work on the matter.
He further said that the rules for the budget/finance committee have been reviewed and approved. The chairman said that the matter of five cases of plagiarism would be decided on Sunday (today) where exemplary punishment would be recommended to control the menace in future.
He further said that the Commission has reviewed the regulations for degree awarding universities to encourage foreign universities in the country as well as the national universities will open campuses outside the country by facilitating them.
He said that any university which wants to open branch in Pakistan is welcomed, but it would require an NoC from the Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry and it would have to follow the HEC regulations. "We will treat foreign universities like the Pakistani university, but it will have to follow our regulations," the HEC chairman added.
He further said that the HEC is spending Rs 10 billion annually on research but needs more funds, adding that the research and development (R&D) policy has been reviewed. Banuri further said that framework policy for students with disability have been approved according to which students with disability would not only be admitted in higher education institutions but would be provided all kinds of financial and other facilities.
He further said that the HEC would welcome private sector and would protect students' rights but no variations in rules and regulations would be acceptable. If private universities violate rules and regulations then huge penalty would be imposed on them in shape of non-attesting their degrees and would have to pay 3 times to students.
He further said that information database of all universities would be established to ease the process of degree verification for students facilitation. Steps are being taken to start online degree verification process, he added. Under the smart university programme, information technology would be promoted in universities.