Higher Education Commission PhD degrees criteria

PhDs defying criteria not to be recognised
Islamabad, Jan 12: Higher Education Commission (HEC) will not recognise those PhD degrees, which do not fulfil the HEC quality criteria and are awarded after July 1, 2009.

The Commission, in its 21st meeting held here Monday at the HEC Secretariat, noted with concern that despite the existence of clear cut criteria for the award of the PhD degree and a passage of more than four years from its initial approval, some institutions have awarded PhD degrees in violation of HEC's PhD award criteria.

The Commission also directed that development funding to institutions violating the quality criteria be curtailed and that the matter be taken up with the chancellors of the universities to ensure that the quality of higher education imparted in Pakistan is not compromised, and meets international standards.

HEC had developed comprehensive criteria for the award of MPhil and PhD degrees in the country in 2005. These criteria were developed after extensive consultation with all stakeholders and ensured that advanced degrees awarded in Pakistan meet international standards.

As per the criteria, it is necessary for the PhD dissertation to be approved by at least two eminent international experts in the relevant area and all scholars must publish a journal paper in any HEC recognised journal prior to the submission of the PhD thesis.

In the disciplines of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and five other disciplines in which the international GRE examination is held, it is also necessary that the PhD scholars have cleared the international examination prior to the submission of thesis and the award of degree. The news

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VC calling the shots despite expiry of contract
Peshawar: The vice-chancellor of NWFP Agricultural University is conducting tests and interviews of candidates for different posts despite the fact that his contract has been expired, sources say.

They alleged that vice-chancellor violated the university statutes by making appointments on different posts after expiry of his contract. "The tenure of Said Khan Khalil as vice-chancellor of NWFP Agriculture University has been ended on January 2, 2010, but he is still running the affairs of the university and taking important decisions, which is illegal and against the rules," sources said.

NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, also chancellor of the public sector universities, has neither issued notification of appointing him as acting vice-chancellor after expiry of his tenure nor issued order about the continuation of his services.

On Monday Mr Khalil conducted tests and interviews for three posts of BP-19, which include deputy director finance aid, deputy director university advancement and deputy director student career counseling. Such violation of rules was witnessed for the first time in the history of the university, sources said, adding each candidate appointed on any of those posts would be paid a huge salary of Rs80,000.

Sources said that tests and interviews for the said posts were conducted in haste without adopting proper procedures. "Mr Khalil will definitely appoint the candidates referred by the top brass of ANP-led government to retain the post of vice-chancellor," they alleged.

Sources said that he couldn't conduct test and interview for any post at the university because he was no more a vice-chancellor.

Referring to anomalies in the procedure, they said tests and interviews for such higher posts were conducted through the selection committee instead of the selection board. "The selection committee is constituted on the will of vice-chancellor while selection board is formed according to the statute of the university," they added.

Mr Khalil, when contacted, said that he had received any notification, issued by the chancellor, regarding extension in his contract or working as acting vice-chancellor.

When his attention was drawn towards the appointment of three deputy directors at the university, he said that he had been given green signal by the office of chancellor to go ahead as he would be reappointed as vice-chancellor.

He claimed that chancellor had issued an order about the continuation of his office till the appointment of a new vice-chancellor but he didn't receive its copy.

Sources also alleged that Mr Khalil notified various other vacancies without the approval of the minutes of syndicate. They alleged that he was favouring the students' wing of a specific political party and its members were involved in criminal activities on the campus.

"The activists of a political organisation, patronised by Mr Khalil, misbehave with teachers and harass girl students. Even on Monday they opened firing on some students over a petty issue on the campus premises," they added. Dawn

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NCA students artwork
Rawalpindi: Students of the first Fine Arts graduating class of the National College of Arts (NCA), Rawalpindi Campus, displayed their thesis works under the 'First Degree Show 2009' here on Monday evening.

It was indeed a display of many dimensions, with various mediums, ranging from painting, sculptures, miniature paintings, art pieces encompassing kaleidoscope, multimedia videos and moving comics. The paintings accentuated social issues, gender biases, politics and personal beliefs of students in general.

The show was attended by HEC Executive Director Dr. Sohail Naqvi, NCA Principal Professor Naazish Ata-Ullah, NCA Director Nsir Malik and several art lovers and guests.

The students whose paintings were displayed included Amen Sardar, Mahjabeen Mirza, Mohammad Umar, Rabbia Javaid, Rabia Malik and Tehreem Jafri. In sculptures, Ayub Wali and Manail Muneeb presented their art pieces. In miniature paintings, Beenish Khalid, Fatima Shakil, Saima Beenish and Silwat Mumtaz presented their creations.

The students worked under the guidance of Nadia Hussain, Sophiya Khwaja, Nadia Rahat, Hamid Durrani, Imran Hunzai, Hassan Ali and Nida Bangash of the NCA Fine Arts Department.

Professor Naazish Ata-Ullah said that despite the fact that the students had to face adverse security concerns, they still managed to keep their spirits high and did a commendable job. "Their works show that they will join the mainstream artists with a lot of poise and confidence," she said.

Nsir Malik said it is a dream come true that finally the Fine Arts class has graduated. "These 13 students with fresh minds have worked day and night to see this day. Their pieces are exceptional and beyond my imagination," he said.

Ayub Wali, a student whose work was displayed, said with the passage of time, he has discovered and observed social discrimination and that experience is depicted in his creations. Since he belongs to the Northern Areas, he has mostly used organic materials indigenous to that area.

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Portrait contest winners
Rawalpindi: A certificate distribution ceremony was held at the Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) here on Monday for winners and participants of a portrait painting competition.

The competition, held on December 26, 2009, was conducted by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, coinciding with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's death anniversary. It was participated by students of different educational institutions and amateur and professional artists.

The FJWU got second prize in the on-the-spot portrait painting competition. Natasha Iqbal Jozi of the FJWU's Fine Arts Department got the second prize in the students category of the competition, while Reema Fawad, Maryam Saeed, Amna Irshad and Salma Iftikhar were awarded with certificates.

FJWU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Saeeda Asadullah Khan awarded certificates of appreciation among students of the Fine Arts Department as a token of appreciation on Monday. Appreciating the students, she advised them to keep up the spirit.

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Anglo Arabic schools
Rawalpindi: The general assembly of the Anglo Arabic Schools & College Old Boys Association has elected Dr Samiullah Koreshi as President of the association, says a press release.

The assembly also elected Rizwzn K Shamsi, MBA, DA IBP, ACMA, as General Secretary; Farmanul Haq M.A, Former Principal of Information Academy, Senior V P; Ikramullah Abbasi, MBA, V P; Malik Irfan Azam, M.A Political Scinece Joint Secretary; Malik Muhammed Idriss, M.A, LL B, Publicity Secretary, Zaheer A Awan, MBA,ACMA Internal Auditor, and six Members of Executive Committee that include Farheen Ikram, M. Sc Chemistry, Aneela Zahoor Chauhan, M.Sc Chemistry, Khurram Ahsan DAE, Naveed Choudhry, BCS, Bilal Ijasz B. Engineering and Zuhaib Hassan B.Sc.

Earlier, the Punjab government had appointed an ad hoc governing body for holding fresh elections within six months and to hand over affairs of the association to the newly elected executive committee.

In compliance of the directive, the hoc governing body hold the elections in the premises of the Anglo Arabic Secondary Schools for Boys and Girls and elected a 15-member executive committee.

Dr Samiullah Koreshi repeatedly requested the general body of the association that he won't accept any office in the executive committee, however, under pressing demand of the assembly he reluctantly agreed to serve in the committee.

All the elected members are former students of the Pindi Anglo Arabic Schools. This is a departure from the previous practice where many office-bearers were in their 70s and 80s.

The torch has therefore been passed on to highly qualified younger generations of 'the Old Boys'. Only President and Sr Vice President are from the old generation. Two of the Executive Committee members are ladies from the young generation, both M.Sc in Chemistry. All Executive Members have rich academic background.

The association runs one Public High School for the Boys and one for the Girls located in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi. It has total 900 students in the two schools with 50 teachers.

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ICMA result distinction
Islamabad: Muhammad Ikram, a student of Islamabad Campus of the ICMA, has qualified the final examination of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan, says a press release issued here on Monday.

He belongs to Nara village of Attock. He is among ten students who qualified the ICMA Examination 2009. The news

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