Punjab Higher Education Commission will be an autonomous body

Lahore: In order to address governance issues in more effective and efficient way in province of the Punjab, a roadmap has been suggested by the vice chancellors and leading experts.

Spokesman of Higher Education Department has said that according to this roadmap which has been prepared in the light of the recommendations of three days conference held from 26 to 28 March 2014 at GCU Lahore.

The conference resolved to establish Punjab Higher Education Commission as an autonomous body. The commission would directly work under the supervisions of Chief Minister and would ensure the autonomy of HEIs, improvement of governance structure of degree colleges.

The proposed commission would coordinate and facilitate academic, administrative and financial matters of all HEIs (General and Professional Universities and DAIs) in Punjab as per similar structure of federal HEC.  The proposed commission would not work in conflict with the main functions of federal HEC rather than both the autonomous bodies would work for improving state of higher education in the province.

Realizing the need for strengthening higher education sector in the province Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif formulated a committee of vice chancellors of UET Lahore, University of Punjab, GC University Lahore, University of Gujrat and Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi to arrange In order to address governance issues in more effective and efficient way. The Committee formulated its recommendations which were subsequently presented to the Chief Minster by the Secretary Higher Education Department.

According to the spokesman the conference participants underlined the need for reforms in higher education sector of Punjab due to multiple factors including growing requirements for faculty development, low gross enrollment ratio as compared to international standards, poor quality of higher Education particularly in colleges and relevance of higher education for socio-economic development of the country.

The conference was unanimously resolved to undertake collaborative efforts  for revision  of curriculum and Evaluation System to develop creativity, analytical ability, critical thinking, supporting quality enhancement regime, focusing research towards addressing socio-economic problems in the areas of energy ,ICT , public health ,population, engineering and environment & water resources etc, enhancing research collaboration with National/International HEIs and Industry and developing knowledge economy through Higher Education.

The other important recommendation  of the conference include  establishment of Research Endowment Fund with Rs. 2 billion,  Scholarship / Loan Endowment Fund with Rs. 5 billion and endowment Fund with initial Rs. 2 billion faculty development , strengthening /Up-gradation of existing facilities of universities and DAIs, establishment of DAIs particularly in f less developed areas, ensuring quality induction of students in HEIs through standardized entry test, establishment of  Knowledge Parks/Technology Parks/Energy Parks in collaboration with HEIs &  Industry and internationalization of   the universities.