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HEC closure rumours, Academics concerned
Academics concerned over HEC closure rumours
Lahore, Dec 12: Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association
(FAPUASA) showed great concern over the rumors about the closure of Higher
Education Commission (HEC) and demanded a high level committee to investigate
the finance and other malpractices in the HEC.
It was demanded in the
Executive Council meeting presided over by Dr Arbab Khan Afridi and attended by
Prof Dr Mumtaz Salik, Prof Badar Soomro, Prof Kalimullah Barec, Dr Arshad Zia
and Prof Bashir Ahmed.
Fatiha and condolence was also offered to founder president of FAPUASA Professor
Dr Khalid Alvi on his death. After a lengthy discussion, the following
resolutions were unanimously passed.
FAPUASA showed great concern over the
cut of universities budget and demanded for its restoration and demanded that
PhD scholarship programme should be continued for all those who have qualified
for the scholarship. Elected representations should be made obligatory in the
entire policy making bodies of the universities, besides, teachers and students
election must be held at the end of every year.
Removal of ban on recruitment in all the universities particularly in
Universities Sindh. Dichotomy in the fringe benefits must be removed. 2002 PRSO
Ordinance must be taken back. Restoration of fuel allowance, new universities
must be brought under University Act according to 1973 Constitution. Model
University Ordinance must be repealed.
All the retired administrative head
from the universities must be replaced by in service teachers including
vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor. The portfolio of chancellor and
Governor must be separated due to the large number of universities in the
country.
Executive council decided to negotiate with the government at all
level, otherwise general body will decide its line of action in the meeting, to
be held in January 2009. The Nation
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Economic crisis forces HEC to stall NRPU
Karachi: The prevailing financial crisis has compelled the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to temporarily stall
the National Research Program for Universities (NRPU), it was learnt.
"Under the NRPU, research grants are awarded to faculty members and
researchers holding full time positions in public and selected private sector
universities," HEC officials said. The NRPU was established keeping in mind the
dearth of literature and equipment required to conduct research and it aims at
financially assisting researchers in their research pursuits. "At present, work
on 551 research projects, financially assisted by NRPU, is underway", the
officials said. They added that it was feared that these projects might be
suspended till the release of funds to HEC.
According to officials the
research grant program was providing financial support for research projects in
Humanities, Social, Management, Basic, Natural, and Medical Sciences. "The
projects are also focused towards discovering affordable treatment of lethal
diseases including hepatitis and malaria, as well as suggesting financial models
to solve the country's economic woes" they maintained.
Officials said
that an agreement was signed between the host institution, HEC, and the
principal investigator to ensure the accurate usability of grants, which are
provided for a period of one to three years. The officials were of the view that
such research projects, for which HEC provided grants of up to Rs 15 million per
project, could not be financed by researchers themselves without any assistance.
Twenty two projects have been completed so far under the NRPU, including
drug prescriptions for pregnant women and a pharmaco-epidemiological study by
Agha Khan University's Dileep K Rohra that cost Rs 0.4 million, Characterization
of Loci responsible for Inherited Eye Anomalies in Families of Pakistan by
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Dr Arshad Muhammad Rafiq at a cost
of Rs 4.9 million and Screening for Vision and Hair Impairment in Rural Sindh
and Balochistan by Dr S Riazuddin of Punjab University that cost around Rs 1.7
million.
It may be pointed out here that researchers of 15 private
universities are eligible for NRPU research grants. They are Aga Khan
University, Karachi, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute, Topi, LUMS, Lahore, Riphah
International University, Islamabad National Textile University, Faisalabad,
Foundation University, Islamabad, Institute of Business and Technology, Karachi,
National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad, Indus
Institute of Higher Education Karachi, University of Lahore, Lahore, Institute
of Business Management, Karachi, Ziauddin University, Karachi, University of
Management and Technology, Lahore, University of Faisalabad,
Faisalabad, Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Karachi. Daily Times
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