Showing serious concerns on state of state of higher education in Pakistan, the experts and academicians on higher education unanimously resolved to ensure culture of transparency and accountability through openness, merit based appointments and effective participation and meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders in higher education governance at all tiers including higher education commissions and varsities
ISLAMABAD,(Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2018) : Showing serious concerns on state of state of higher education in Pakistan, the experts and academicians on higher education unanimously resolved to ensure culture of transparency and accountability through openness, merit based appointments and effective participation and meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders in higher education governance at all tiers including higher education commissions and varsities, and to end illegal occupation of university land and separation of functions of quality assurance, ranking, funding and internal administration at the level of individual institutions , during an important meeting of working group on higher education which was presided over by former secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad on Tuesday at secretariat of National Democratic Foundation (NDF) Islamabad.
During the meeting, it was decided to monitor key appointments including chairperson(s) of federal/provincial HECs and vice chancellors of public sector universities through formation of a special committee comprising of reputed representatives of different stakeholders including civil society, federation of All Pakistan universities academic staff association, media and private sector at large. The participants were unanimous of the view that without ensuring transparency and accountability in higher education, desired results of improving quality of teaching and research would not be achieved.
They emphasized that there is a dire need to create certain checks & balances in role and responsibilities, especially at the level of Federal and provincial higher education commission, through revision of respective acts of federal level in the context and provisions of 18th Constitutional amendment which is matter of grave concern and disappointment as left unattended throughout the political governance over the past 8 years. In order to ensure merit and transparency in selection process, the search committee of key appointments in higher education sector, should be free from any external influences and all the members of search committee should be notified in order to maintain their neutral and impartial role.
The said committee should employ a public demo method for selection of candidates through open door process, in front of relevant stakeholders. In his concluding remarks, Kanwar Dilsahd appreciated the contribution and keen interest of newly formed working group on higher education. It was also decided that a reference on transparency and merit in higher education sector would be sent to the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan and respective provincial governments.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Kaleemullah Bareach President Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Dr. Nadeem Omar Vice President Council of Social Sciences Pakistan, Salman Abid senior analyst, Shehzad Iqbal former senior joint secretary federal ministry of inter provincial coordination, Dr. Naazir Mahmood columnist/educationist, Dr. Shehzad Ashraf President FAPUASA Islamabad, Muhammad Murtaza Noor National Coordinator Inter University Consortium, Kanwar Javed Iqbal Charman Pakistan Social Services Partnership, a network of 85 civil society organizations and others.
