| Higher Education Commission of Pakistan | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Dr. Javaid Laghari |
| Location | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Nickname | HEC |
| Website | www.hec.gov.pk |
The Higher Education Commission (HEC), formerly the University Grant Commission, is the primary regulator of higher education in Pakistan. It also facilitated the development of higher educational system in Pakistan. Its main purpose was to upgrade universities in Pakistan to be centres of education, research and development.
The HEC has played a leading role towards building a knowledge based economy in Pakistan by giving out hundreds of doctoral scholarships for education abroad every year. Dr. Javaid Laghari is the last incumbent appointed HEC Chairman.
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HEC main programs are following:
There has been much praise of the higher education reforms under the leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman,FRS, its former Chairman. Pakistan has also been given a number of prestigious international awards for the remarkable transformation of the higher education sector.
Prof. Wolfgang Voelter (Tubingen University, Germany) in his article in Pakistan's leading Daily Newspaper Dawn entitled "The Golden Age" writes “A miracle happened. The scenario of education, science and technology in Pakistan changed dramatically, as never before in the history of Pakistan. The chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Education recently announced it as "Pakistan's golden period in higher education" [8].
A US educational expert Prof. Fred M. Hayward has also praised the reform process undertaken by Pakistan: “Since 2002 a number of extraordinary changes have taken place. Over the last six years almost 4,000 scholars have participated in PhD programs in Pakistan. More than 600 students have studied in foreign PhD programs. The Higher Education Commission instituted major upgrades for laboratories and information and communications technology, rehabilitation of facilities, expansion of research support, and development of one of the best digital libraries in the region. A quality assurance and accreditation process was also established. Its successes have been remarkable as the recurrent and development budgets increased 340 percent in real terms from 2001 to 2005/06. By 2008, as a result of its policy and financial successes, most universities had become strong proponents of the Higher Education Commission.Quality had increased significantly, and several institutions were on their way to becoming world-class institutions. Many expatriate Pakistanis returned from abroad with access to competitive salaries. About 95 percent of people sent abroad for training returned, an unusually high result for a developing country in response to improved salaries and working conditions at universities as well as bonding and strict follow-up by the commission, Fulbright, and others.”[9]
Prof. Michael Rode, Former Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Science, Technology and Development and presently heading a Network of European and Asian Universities (ASIA-UNINET) writes: "The progress made was breath-taking and has put Pakistan ahead of comparable countries in numerous aspects. To name just a few, the establishment of a free access to scientific literature by high-speed Internet for all universities, the thousands of promising young scientists who were granted PhD studies at top universities abroad, the upgrade of research equipment accessible across the country and the programme of establishing new universities of science and technology, including technology parks attracting foreign investors, prove the efficiency and the long-term benefits for the country enabled by the HEC's chairman.The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology has closely monitored the development in Pakistan in the past years, coming to the unanimous conclusion that Prof Rahman’s policy and programme is a 'best-practice' example for developing countries aiming at building their human resources and establishing an innovative, technology-based economy." [10]
Pakistan has won four international awards for the revolutionary changes in the higher education sector brought about under the leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman (Federal Minister), Higher Education Commission. The TWAS (Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, Italy)Award for Institutional Development was conferred on Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman at the 11th General Conference of TWAS in October 2009 [11]. The Austrian Government conferred its high civil award "Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande" (2007) on Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman for transforming the Higher Education sector in Pakistan. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman was also elected as Fellow of Royal Society (London)(2006) [12] and Honorary Life Fellow of Kings College , Cambridge University (2007) [13] in recognition of his academic contributions as well as his services to the higher education sector in Pakistan.
Nature, a leading science journal,has also written a number of editorials and articles about the transformation brought about in Pakistan in the higher education sector under he leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, former Chairman (Federal Minister), Higher Education Commission.[14][15][16][17][18]
In an article entitled "Pak Threat to Indian Science" published in the leading daily newspaper Hindustan Times, India, it has been reported that Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Chairman of the Indian Prime Minister's Scientific Advisory Council made a presentation to the Indian Prime Minister at the rapid progress made by Pakistan in the higher education sector under the leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman, Higher Education Commission. It was reported that as result of the reforms brought about in Pakistan " Pakistan may soon join China in giving India serious competition in science". “Science is a lucrative profession in Pakistan. It has tripled the salaries of its scientists in the last few years.” [19]
After the (forced) resignation of Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, the performance of HEC is declining and the culture of work is changing in HEC. An example of this is that HEC no longer publishes the list of selected candidates for scholarship. It changed its web site layout and asks individuals to provide their national ID before they can get their results. Before this, a complete list was provided along with marks.[7]
The creation of HEC has had a positive impact on higher education in Pakistan.
a) Established the finest Digital Library in Pakistan: Every student in every public sector university today has access to 45,000 textbooks research monographs from 220 international publishers as well as to 25,000 international research journals - regarded as one of the best digital libraries anywhere in the world.
b) Tripled University enrollment from 135,000 in the year 2003 to 400,000 in 2008.
c) Promoted research, resulting in huge expansion of international research publications from Pakistan from only 600 research papers /yr in 2003 to 4300 research papers in 2008.
d) During the 56 year period (1947–2003) not a single Pakistani university could be ranked among the top 600 universities in the world. Today 5 of Pakistani universities are in this category with the National University of Science and Technology standing at a very respectable number 350.
e) Four year undergraduate program introduced so that our degrees are internationally recognized.
f) About 5000 Ph.D. level scholarships awarded for study in technologically advanced countries (largest program in developing world) and some 3,000 indigenous Ph.D. scholarships have been awarded. The world’s largest Fulbright Scholarship program (US $ 150 million) launched with joint funding (HEC/USAID).
g) Fifty one new universities and degree awarding institutes and 18 campuses of existing universities established during (2003–2008).
h) Sending 1000 pakistani students to study medicine in Cuba and doing their best to register their degrees by PMDC and soon will send a deligation of members of PMDC,HEC and MNAs
Amongst the objectives of this project a primary objective of introduction of Video Conferencing facility is to enhance students teachers interaction through distance learning, bridge the gap of good faculty, meet the shortage of faculty members at the universities located at far-flung areas and ultimately to uplift the standard of education in Pakistan. HEC aims to give Pakistan a bright future through a young, qualified and energetic generation.
In the 1st phase starting September, 2006 eminent scholars from Pakistan will deliver interactive lectures on various topics and recorded lectures from foreign universities will be broadcasted. The lectures delivered/broadcasted will be aimed to develop fundamental concepts, to enhance the critical thinking for under-graduate and graduate students and to discuss cutting edge technologies/research work in the fields of modern sciences for students and faculty members. In the 2nd stage interactive lectures from foreign universities will be arranged. Nobel Laureates/Eminent scientists/researchers will be invited to deliver lectures to share their knowledge/research work. This program will continue and the remaining 32 universities in 2nd phase will become part of the program.
Currently there are more than 65 sites which are operational all over Pakistan and availing this facility for conducting lectures, meetings and other events etc.
The current administration faces several allegations made by a number of MS/PhD students, who claim that HEC, without a legal permission from the court, has placed their names on the Exit Control List (ECL) and has declared them 'Defaulters', which is totally against the rule of law.[8] This claim was challenged by HEC in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but was not urged by the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the other two members of the Supreme Court[9] The panel issued directions to the authorities concerned to initiate legal action against the HEC director for placing the names of students on the Exit Control List (ECL) with the help of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
As of April 5 2011, the HEC was dissolved by the federal government. The main reason was due to the unavailability of funds to sponsor foreign studies of students. The move was highly criticised by many students and teachers across the country. In an article, the Pakistani scientist Pervez Hoodbhoy expressed his critical views of the HEC and voiced the opinion that dissolving the HEC appeared to be a good idea. He cited that the body had a less than stellar record and spent money on various mega-projects that failed. However, he also said that despite his critical views, the "instant dismemberment or serious disempowerment of the HEC is a recipe for producing chaos" and the government was headed in the wrong direction. He argued that the few checks and balances which are enforced by the HEC would disappear. "Creating another bureaucracy or handing over the reins to existing provincial education bureaucracies, which are even more myopic and less competent than those at the federal centre, will negatively impact the quality of university education in Pakistan." He further went on to say that all academic decisions would be allowed to be made by those who otherwise had little understanding of how universities should function.[10]
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