Five hours long “All Punjab Vice-Chancellors (VCs) Convention” held at Governor House Thursday took major decisions in relation to introduction of modern curriculum at universities, elimination of ad hoc policy and monitoring or accessing the performance of vice-chancellors.
According to a handout, the convention was attended by Provincial Ministers including Yasir Humayun, Hasnain Buhadur Dareshak, Malik Nauman Langrial, Principal Secretary to Punjab Governor, Babar Hayat Tarar, Higher Education Secretary Dr Raheel Siddique, Specialized Healthcare Secretary Momin Ali Agha, Higher Education Commission Punjab Chairman Dr Fazal Khalid, LCWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Bushra Mirza, Vice-Chancellor University of Health Sciences (UHS) Dr Asad Zaheer, Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Niaz Akhtar, University of Gujrat (UoG) Vice-Chancellor Shabbar Attique and Vice-Chancellors of government and private universities and VCs of Punjab Based Federal Charted Universities were also present.
Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar directed universities to start “Clean and Green Campus” campaign, to circulate calendars of senate and syndicate’s yearly meetings and directed universities to immediately complete the body of senate, board of governors and syndicate at their respective varsities. He also directed universities to establish “students complaints redress committees” to resolve student’s issues and complaints promptly, adding that any kind of political interference in the universities would not be tolerated.
He assured that political influence had been eliminated from universities and appointments at varsities were solely made on merit, including the appointments of vice-chancellors and registrars. The Governor said overlooking merit and transparency would not be tolerated even on the part of vice-chancellors. During the convention, the vice-chancellors briefed the chancellor about their issues and performance.
Addressing the convention, the governor said various suggestions were received concerning speedy and efficient resolution of university issues. He briefed the convention that to access the relevant files, an online file tracking system must be launched. The governor said the government will initiate the necessary measures to convert universities on solar power and special emphasis would be given to increase research activities. Also, the government will fully cooperate with universities and its main priority was to connect the students and universities with the industry as well as the competitive business world, he added.
The chancellor said it was vital to focus on increasing research activities in universities, specifically research on eradication of environmental pollution. He assured that ranking of universities would be improved in line to the international standards which was only possible with the due support of the authorities.
The governor said every individual within the university premises should have access to clean water. For this, water filtration plants would soon be installed at university campuses and Aab-e-Pak Authority would support and cooperate in this venture, he added. Sarwar suggested that professionals should also be included in the boards of universities so that graduating students could get timely employment, redressing employment-related problems swiftly.
Addressing the convention, Punjab Higher Education Minister Yasir Humayun said all the issues faced by universities were delivered to Governor Ch Sarwar and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Buzdar and they were working in close coordination with the authorities. He said soon a committee will be constituted to handle the issues faced by varsities and propose suggestions for their resolution which would then be forwarded to him, the governor and the CM.