APSUP writes to PM Shehbaz for transparent appointment of HEC chief

Our Correspondent

Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) Chairman Dr Abdul Rehman has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief through a transparent process.

The letter mentions that the private sector is playing a very vital role in the higher education sector of Pakistan. The APSUP is an elected representative body of 92 private sector universities with 34 regional campuses across Pakistan which enroll more than 40 percent of students in the higher education sector.

A merit-based mechanism should be applied while filling the vacancies in the higher education sector. Letter

On the behalf of APSUP, Dr Chaudhry Abdul Rehman congratulated Mian Shehbaz Sharif for being elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Constituted in 2002, the HEC is the supreme body established primarily for funding, overseeing, regulating, and accrediting the higher education institutions in Pakistan. With a budget of more than 90 billion, the HEC plays an important and leading role in building a knowledge-based economy in Pakistan through quality assurance, development of new institutions, and uplift of existing institutions in Pakistan.

  Higher education in Pakistan is nowadays facing a number of problems of severe nature, which are damaging its image and progress.

Higher education in Pakistan is nowadays facing a number of problems of severe nature, which has damaged its image and progress as this important sector suffered a lot during the last few years due to unilateral closed-door policies by HEC management which were rejected by the stakeholders and even 178 out of 180 vice-chancellors at a recent meeting held at Bhurban. The private sector also suffered a lot due to discriminatory policies and undermining of the autonomy of the universities guaranteed through respective Acts.

The letter further mentions that four years tenure of the current HEC chairman is going to expire in the last week of next month and it is the right time to rescue higher education by appointing the higher education leadership, especially the chairman of HEC, on merit through a competitive process, which is possible only if the appointment is free from political and external intervention.

Four years tenure of the current HEC chairman is going to expire in the last week of next month and it is the right time to rescue higher education by appointing its chief on merit through a competitive process.

A merit-based and transparent mechanism should be applied while filling the vacancies in the higher education sector, especially HEC chairperson and vice-chancellors.

Instead of granting extensions, which has already caused irreparable loss to higher education in Pakistan, there is a dire need to create opportunities for dynamic and eminent personalities to lead the higher education sector.

Being the controlling authority of the HEC, the Prime Minister was requested to constitute an unbiased and competent search committee consisting of academicians of international stature from all provinces and headed by an eminent scholar too. Furthermore, candidates with controversial careers or convicted under plagiarism charges should not be considered, the meeting requested. The role and composition of the search committee is vivacious for merit-based transparent appointment of the HEC chairman and to avoid controversies, litigation, and further destruction of higher education in Pakistan otherwise, the present scenario may persist neutralizing efforts to uplift the higher education.

APSUP, being an important stakeholder, assures its utmost cooperation to the current government in enhancing access, improving quality in the higher education sector and contributing for the socio-economic development of the country.