Author Topic: 10 Varsities await VCs  (Read 793 times)

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10 Varsities await VCs
« on: August 17, 2015, 01:04:08 PM »
10 Varsities await VCs
Lahore:August 17:THE appointment of Vice Chancellors (VCs) at ten public universities of Punjab seems to have become an enigma for the provincial government as despite passage of three months since the VC Search Committee “completed” its task the varsities have yet to get regular VCs.
The posts of VCs of Government College University (GCU) Lahore, University of Education, Lahore, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), University of Sargodha, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan, Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) Rawalpindi, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, The Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering & Information Technology, Multan and Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan were advertised in early April this year.
It was for the first time in many years that the Punjab government started the selection process of VCs much before completion of tenure of the incumbents at six of the above varsities. The remaining four varsities are supposed to get their first VCs. The sole purpose behind this early exercise was to ensure that the universities get their top administrative heads before or when the earlier ones complete their terms. It is pertinent to mention here that terms of VCs LCWU Lahore and FJWU Rawalpindi expired on July 13, 2015 while those of GCU Lahore, University of Education Lahore and BZU expired expire on July 22, 2015. VC University of Sargodha (UoS) will, however, complete his tenure on October 9, 2015.
The five varsities where VCs completed their tenures, these coveted posts are being looked after by acting VCs as a stopgap arrangement. The prevailing situation at these universities has caused serious concerns among administrative as well as teaching faculty who have now started raising voice against the delay in appointment of regular VCs. According to them, the varsities are facing problems especially vis-à-vis the ongoing admissions and other administrative affairs. It is in this backdrop, faculty members of the historic GC University have now approached the Chancellor/ Governor expressing their concern over delay in appointment of VC of their respective varsities. A chronology of developments vis-à-vis selection of the VCs clearly shows that the delay was primarily because of the “divided” recommendations of the VC Search Committee about candidates of these coveted posts. It is therefore at one point the Punjab government was set to re-advertising the ten posts.
However, Chairperson of Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin succeeded in “thwarting” this move.
It was exactly a month ago when the CM himself interviewed all the shortlisted candidates for the VCs’ posts. Meanwhile there were reports that the Punjab government might amend acts/ ordinances of public varsities to reduce tenure of VCs from existing 4 to 2 years. The News in its August 6 report revealed approval of eight VCs out of ten by the chief minister. No decision to appoint VCs at University of Sargodha and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering & Information Technology, Multan was take and it is most likely these posts are re-advertised.
Sources privy to the developments said now the delay in formal appointment of the eight VCs was only because of delay in amendment in acts/ ordinances of universities vis-à-vis reduction of VCs’ tenures. Nonetheless there is a growing concern at Punjab University (where the post of VC yet to be advertised) by its Academic Staff Association against the cut in VCs’ tenure. In a recent statement PU-ASA termed the move “a conspiracy against long-term academic and research policies of universities.” Interestingly at GCU Lahore (which is waiting for regular VC) its ASA appreciated the decision of chief minister to appoint VCs for the tenure of two years. “This period of two years shall be sufficient to assess the progress of the Vice Chancellor. We also recommend that on the bases of satisfactory performance tenure should be extended to two more years” read a statement recently issued by the GCU-ASA.
There are divided opinions about cut in tenure of VCs. However, a simple assessment of “performance” at varsities where VCs enjoyed tenure after tenure but still could not secure place in world rankings speaks clear about the demand of four-year tenure.The news.
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