HEC advises universities to Uphold Merit in administrative appointments

ISLAMABAD, Nov 15 (APP):The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has advised the universities to ensure merit and institutional integrity in faculty and administrative appointments by properly presenting the proceedings of Selection Boards before their Syndicates or other relevant statutory forums for detailed deliberation and decision-making.

In a letter addressed to Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of universities, HEC has emphasized circulation of agendas of Syndicate and other relevant statutory forum meetings among members promptly, so that the members have sufficient time for due deliberations. The letter reads: “The Commission is committed to ensuring that appointment decisions are made through the prescribed statutory forums in a manner that upholds merit and institutional integrity.”

The letter underlined that HEC is mandated to guide institutions in establishing minimum standards for good governance and management to provide guidelines regarding minimum criteria and qualifications for appointment and promotion of faculty and to review their implementation, and to cause evaluation of the performance of institutions.

HEC has further stressed the need for ensuring no compromise on the integrity and transparency of decision-making in appointments to faculty and administrative positions, warning that any omission “is viewed with serious concern by the Commission.”

The letter reads: “All universities are advised to ensure that such important and significant agenda items are shared with the members of the Syndicate and other relevant statutory forums strictly in accordance with the timelines prescribed in the Statutes of the university. Members of the Syndicate and other statutory forums shall be given sufficient time to review the agenda items and to prepare adequately for the meeting date and time.” It underlines that compliance with the advisory will earn the universities a reputation for merit and transparency in the appointment process and will ultimately contribute to the quality of education.

Moreover, HEC has also linked compliance with the advisory to the Institutional Performance Review (IPR) planned during the next two months by the Quality Assurance Agency of HEC.