| No Deferment of 4-year Undergraduate and 2-year Associate degrees: HEC | No Deferment of 4-year Undergraduate and 2-year Associate degrees: HEC | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, July 6, 2021: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has clarified that all news items circulating in the press and electronic media regarding deferment of the four-year Undergraduate and two-year Associate Degrees Programmes by HEC, published in context of the Vice Chancellors' Committee Meeting held on July 2, 2021, are<strong> misleading and incorrect</strong>. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Both the programmes are intact and shall continue as earlier. The enforcement of the policy prescribed in the HEC's Notification dated July 11, 2019, regarding "Transition from BA/BSc Programme to Associate Degree Programmes: Phasing Out of MA/MSc Programmes" shall continue in letter and spirit. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">A meeting of all the Vice Chancellors was jointly chaired by Dr. Shaista Sohail, Executive Director, HEC and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, Chair, VC Committee Meeting /Vice Chancellor, Quaid-e-Azam University on July 02, 2021. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The meeting was convened on the request of Vice Chancellors who raised certain issues in implementation of HEC's Undergraduate Education Policy and Policy on PhD Degree Programmes (2021). All points of concern were thoroughly debated, and in accordance with the majority opinion, the following recommendations were made for consideration by the Commission. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The recommendation for deferring implementation of both the policies i.e., Undergraduate Education Policy and Policy on PhD Degree Programmes (2021) until Fall 2022 may be placed before the Commission, HEC's governing body, for consideration. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">A Committee of Vice Chancellors would meet in fourth week of July 2021 for three days to debate issues and come up with practicable solutions.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The summary based on the recommendations of the Vice Chancellors would be taken to the Commission highlighting the factual position and requesting for allowing proposed amendments to facilitate implementation of the two policies. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The universities that are willing to adopt or have already adopted Undergraduate Education Policy and/or Policy for PhD Programmes may continue with its implementation diligently.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">===============</p> | 08-07-2021 07:29:07 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/Associate-degrees-HEC.aspx |
| HEC Launches E-Courses on Policies about Harassment, Students with Disabilities | HEC Launches E-Courses on Policies about Harassment, Students with Disabilities | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, June 16, 2021: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has launched e-courses on its policies on "Protection against Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)" and "Policy for Students with Disabilities in HEIs" to make Pakistani universities safer and more inclusive for students, faculty and administrative staff. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The e-courses have been launched in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the Australian High Commission in Pakistan. The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) will host the e-courses that will promote awareness and outreach of these policies. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Addressing the virtual launching ceremony, Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail said that the role of HEIs was instrumental to emphasize and promote the significance of practicing basic principles and high moral grounds. She informed the participants that two per cent scholarships are specified for students with disabilities in the Prime Minister's Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Programme. She hoped that the coordinated efforts will not only make HEIs safer and inclusive, but will also improve students' overall academic accomplishments.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">In his remarks, Resident Representative UNDP Knut Otsby asserted that, "If we want to encourage the youth to stay in higher education and continue to make progress on the SDGs commitments to provide equal access to women to obtain a tertiary education, we must ensure that young people are able to attain education in a safe, culturally appropriate and equitable environment." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Deputy High Commissioner Joanne Frederiksen said that "This is an important step for promoting inclusion on campus. We are heartened by HEC's leadership in this area, and encourage Vice-Chancellors to ensure faculty staff and students to complete the e-courses." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Country Representative UN Women Ms. Sharmeela Rasool observed that a vast majority of women were still unaware of the protection available to them through legislations. She stressed the need for creating awareness among women about the legal protection. Rector NAHE Dr. Shaheen Sardar Ali said that the Academy was a national institution for capacity building of academic leaders, faculty and staff. "One of the aspects of capacity building is to translate the rules and regulation into knowledge." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">In his closing remarks, Adviser Coordination HEC, Mr. Awais Ahmad reiterated HEC's pledge to continue partnering with national and international entities to build awareness and capacity for operationalizing these policies. He highlighted that the creation of Students Services Division at HEC and inclusion of mandatory requirement for students to join clubs, societies, and sports under HEC Undergraduate Education Policy will create leadership opportunities to work with wider higher education constituencies in building understanding and compliance of two policies. In addition, plans to develop an umbrella PC-I to gradually support universities in remodeling infrastructure, labs and equipment, and policies for control of tobacco and drug abuse, and use of security cameras in campuses are a few of many initiatives being executed to build a free, tolerant, safe and supportive, learning environment in HEIs. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">===============</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><br></p> | 17-06-2021 07:23:55 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/E-Courses.aspx |
| Press Release: NAHE Launches Internationally Recognized Fellowship for IPFP Fellows | Press Release: NAHE Launches Internationally Recognized Fellowship for IPFP Fellows | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, June 9, 2021: The IPFP Fellows, who have successfully completed the National Faculty Development Programme (NFDP), are now eligible to apply for an internationally recognized Fellowship in teaching and learning launched by the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) in collaboration with the British Council's Pak-UK Education Gateway programme and Advance HE, UK. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">There are now over 140,000 Fellows recognized by the Advance HE Fellowship Scheme worldwide. Advance HE is a global not-for-profit charity headquartered in the UK. Using their expertise and sharing best practice, they work to improve higher education for all. Advance HE has expertise in governance, leadership development, teaching and learning enhancement, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Higher Education Commission (HEC) launched the Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP) programme to create an opportunity for fresh PhDs to obtain academic experience and mentorship for one year in higher education institutions (HEIs), federal/provincial government postgraduate colleges, or public sector R&D organizations, prior to their formal entry into the academic job market. The IPFP was established in 2009 and last revised in 2019. The core objective of the programme is to assist fresh PhD graduates in acquiring the competencies and professional characteristics required for effective teaching and research and ultimately for success in the academic profession.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">In addition to the IPFP Programme benefits already in place, including automatic eligibility to attend NFDP, CPD opportunities, one-year placement in an HEC recognized host institution, mentorship, monetary benefits, and Start-up Research Grant Programme (SRGP), IPFP Fellows will now be eligible to apply for this internationally recognized Fellowship. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Fellowship in teaching and learning demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education and offers the fellowship awardees a distinct professional standing. Advance HE Associate Fellowship offers the successful IPFP Fellows an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to professional practices in HEIs in Pakistan in teaching and learning excellence and get acknowledged for their commitment aligned with the internationally recognized UK Professional Standards Framework.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">===============</p> | 09-06-2021 11:36:31 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/Press-Release-NAHE.aspx |