Universities self-finance scheme abolition
VCs demand more funds or fee hike
Lahore, June 23: Financial constraints on public sector universities after
abolition of the self-finance scheme have forced vice-chancellors (VCs) to
demand the Punjab government either let them increase fees or release funds for
them. The other option put forward by the universities to save them from
"starving" is a review of the decision by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz
Sharif who had abolished the scheme in the best interest of students to ensure
supremacy of merit and competence. The demand was highlighted in the 2nd
meeting of Punjab Higher Education Council (PHEC) held here on Tuesday. Higher
Education Punjab Secretary Ahad Khan Cheema chaired the meeting while
VCs/rectors/representatives of public sector universities and two private
universities attended the meeting. A sub-committee was formed in earlier
meeting of the PHEC which after having discussions with universities over
self-finance scheme agreed on demands presented in Tuesday's meeting. To give an
example as to how much financial deficit was being incurred by universities
after scrapping the self finance scheme, a participant of the meeting said the
University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore, was losing around Rs
60 million while the Punjab University (PU) was losing over Rs 250 million
annually. He said the universities especially new universities were
finding it difficult to generate revenue on their own and therefore were
unanimous in demanding increase in fees or funding from the
government. According to sources almost every public university had
expressed concerns to the sub-committee over financial constraints emerged after
scrapping the self-finance scheme. They added the varsities made it
clear that owing to the overall funding scenario which had been changing rapidly
with low budgetary allocation and releases to the Higher Education Commission
(HEC) by the Federal government, the universities were finding it difficult to
meet the situation. "Review of his own decision by the CM, funding to
universities or increase in fees are the only options to come out of this
crisis," commented Vice Chancellor of a university who wished to remain
anonymous. The sub-committee also requested the Punjab chief minister to take up
the issue related to federal government's decision of enhancing the salaries and
pension as owing to this the universities were likely to face huge deficit. It
is learnt the committee recommended seeking relevant grants from the federal
government. It is important to mention here that PU Vice Chancellor Prof
Dr Mujahid Kamran chairing a meeting of the varsity's deans, principals and
teachers on Tuesday had said that the varsity was likely to face huge deficit of
around Rs 760 million owing to the recent enhanced government servants' salaries
and pension as well as other allowances. An official of the UET, Lahore,
said the university was likely to face deficit of Rs 160 million in implementing
the federal government's decision. Another important task took up by the
PHEC was introduction of 4-year BS (Hons) programmes in 26 selected colleges of
the province. It is learnt the meeting expressed complete satisfaction over the
initiative though some technical issues were also highlighted. It is
pertinent to mention here that the Punjab government has planned to launch the
4-year degree programme in public colleges across the province in different
phases to meet the international standards and market demand. In the
first phase the government has identified 26 colleges across Punjab where the
board of governors (BoG) would be constituted to ensure effective implementation
of the plan. The move is being resented by teachers and students on the
plea that the constitution of BoGs would lead to different problems such as
promotions and fee hike etc. The PHEC meeting urged the public sector
universities to have unanimous statutes in connection with grant of BS-22 to
meritorious professors. In the wake of upcoming academic session the
meeting also discussed the possibility of uniform admission schedule by
universities, online admissions and option of refund to the students.
The meeting also discussed the concept of community colleges while
sub-committees were also formed to finalise various remaining issues.
When contacted, Higher Education Secretary Ahad Khan Cheema said a
number of problems related to universities were discussed in the Tuesday's
meeting, including introduction of 4-year degree programmes in colleges.
He said the demand to seek funds after scrapping of self finance scheme
was quite logical and rational, adding that the same would be forwarded to the
higher authorities. To a question, Ahad Khan Cheema said the government
had planned to give regular grants to the new autonomous colleges besides
ensuring best faculty, modern and well-equipped laboratories and libraries and
infrastructure. He claimed the government would ensure that none of the new
autonomous college could increase fee. The news
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Increase in salaries: PU likely to face Rs763m deficit
Lahore: The Punjab University is expecting a deficit of Rs763.4 million
after calculating payment of salaries and allowances to its employees with a 50
per cent increase, as announced in the federal budget for the fiscal year
2010-11. The PU administration held a special meeting with
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran in the chair on Tuesday to review
implications of the pay raise announced in the federal budget. The meeting was
attended by Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan, Treasurer Dr Uzma Ikram, IBA
Director and Budget Committee Chairman Prof Dr Ehsan Malik, deans of all
faculties, principals and heads of teaching and non-teaching departments.
The VC said the varsity would make all-out efforts to meet the likely
deficit of Rs763.4 million by generating income from its own resources. He said
the university's present strength of employees stood at 7,415, while pension was
being paid to 1,960 retired employees. Of Rs3.63 billion university budget for
the current financial year, he said, the Higher Education Commission provided
Rs1.10 billion. He said the varsity was earning Rs21.7 million annually
from 270 acres of its leased land. Similarly, he said the university was
collecting Rs54 million from students under the fee head. Stating that the
university was offering academic scholarships to students to the tune of Rs60
million, he promised the university would not take any budgetary measure leading
to financial burden on poor parents. Later, the meeting participants
gave proposals for meeting the fiscal deficit through enhanced generation of
revenue. GAT: Adopting the new rules laid down by the Higher Education
Commission, the Government College University has made the General Aptitude Test
(GAT) a prerequisite for all candidates applying for admission to M.Phil/MS
programmes. According to the new rules, the GAT conducted by the
National Testing Service with a minimum 50 per cent cumulative score will be
required at the time of applying for admissions to MPhil/MS. - Staff Reporter
APPOINTED: The VC has appointed Dr Sadia Ata as assistant professor in
the Institute of Chemistry under the Tenure Track System in anticipation of
approval from the syndicate. Dawn
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PU faculty member accused of violating PhD semester rules
Lahore: A Punjab University (PU) senior faculty member has exposed a violation of semester rules of the PhD
programme by Dean of Social and Behaviour Sciences Dr Mugheesuddin, learnt on Tuesday. The dean is reported to have enrolled two students in the
second semester, despite them failing in the first semester exams. PU
Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) senior faculty member Dr Affira Hamid
exposed the violation by submitting an application to PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr
Mujahid Kamran and requested him to take action for the betterment of the
university. Dr Affira, in her application, said according to the rules, a
student could not be promoted to the next semester without obtaining passing
marks in the previous semester. However, Dr Mughees promoted Shafique Kamboh and
Naveed Iqbal, violating the regulations. She said Shafique and Naveed
were not even eligible to appear in the first semester examination of ICS due to
a shortage of attendance with 39 percent each. She said the dean had displayed a
notice that said students with less than 75 percent attendance were not allowed
to sit in the final exams of the first semester of PhD. She also claimed
that their attendance records had been manoeuvred on the dean's orders, adding
that all their classmates were a witness to their poor attendance. Dr
Affira Hamid said that she could even provide evidence of this misconduct
on the part of the dean. Denial: Dr Mughees on the other hand denied all
such accusations and claimed that the VC himself distributes all the degrees,
consequently eliminating any chance of irregularity. He also said these
students passed their exams in open competition and no corruption of any sort
took place. He said a re-examination had been conducted for the "failed"
students, who were later declared pass by a third examiner – the authority that
a department possesses under the rules in case of any confusion. Daily times
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45pc of DVM final year students get jobs
Lahore: Almost 45 per cent students of final year Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine (DVM) are grabbing a major share of employment in well-known national
and international private companies. This was stated by University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat
Naseer Pasha while speaking to DVM final year students at the concluding
ceremony of "Internship Programme 2010" arranged by the Faculty of Veterinary
Sciences (FVS) on varsity campus on Tuesday. Siemens Pharmaceutical CEO
Syed Sajjad Hadier, UVAS registrar Dr Kamran Ashraf and all deans and
departments heads were also present on the occasion. Dr Pasha urged UVAS
students to play their role in strengthening the livestock and poultry sector by
exploring their skills in field. He said on-farm trainings broaden internees'
experience to enrich their professional capabilities. He said the university
students were ambassadors of their alma mater, and they must learn and strive to
boost up the national kitty. He urged the students to equip themselves
with practical knowledge and hands-on training while doing their jobs in the
national and multinational organisations. He also urged them to keep in touch
with the UVAS and stay focused on selected area of veterinary sciences.
It may be mentioned that some 121 DVM final year students had
participated in the internship programme to improve their skills and gain
hands-on training experience in four modules – animal husbandry, improvement and
management, pre-services field, and training in the area of veterinary medicine.
Of them, 54 students got jobs in various national and multi-national companies
after doing their internships. Speaking on the occasion, Siemens
Pharmaceutical CEO Syed Sajjad Hadier lauded the efforts of the UVAS and
acknowledged that the university was now facilitating the private sector through
its advancement of studies and skilled human resources. He urged the
students to enlighten the future of the country through their hard work and
dedication in their related fields. Earlier, FVS dean Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad
gave briefing about the procedure of the internship of DVM final semester
students. He said the objective of the internship programme was to provide
pre-service field training to students in the area of veterinary medicine,
animal husbandry and allied fields. He said this internship programme
provided a golden opportunity to the students not only to improve their skills
but also to become successful entrepreneurs in near future. Dawn
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GCU MPhil admission
Lahore: The Government College University (GCU) adopting the new rules laid down by the Higher
Education Commission (HEC) has made the GAT-General Test passing a prerequisite
for all candidates applying for the admissions to MPhil/MS programmes. The news
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