Islamabad, Oct. 20 (Online): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been making all-out efforts to enhance opportunities and facilities available to the university faculty and has initiated a number of programmes for their higher studies, professional development as well as providing guidance to universities on streamlining the hiring and promotion processes.
This was stated by Chairman HEC Tariq Banuri while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday. There is no doubt that the most important factor that determines the quality of any educational institution is the quality of its faculty. This is the core objective of various scholarships, R&D and quality assurance policies of HEC. Scholarships are provided for PhD and Post-doctoral Fellowship, Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs and International Research Support Initiative Programme.
HEC also provides research grants for individuals and institutions under different schemes. Finally HEC has set minimum standards for faculty appointments and promotion, and reviews appeals against any violation of the standards. The Tenure Track System (TTS) was introduced as part of a broader quality reform agenda aimed at enhancing performance and productivity and attracting capable and talented faculty. TTS system seeks to creating a healthy competition, encouraging excellence in research and teaching.
The total number of TTS faculty members in Pakistan has increased from 95 in 2005-06 to 3198 in 2018-19. So far, more than 105 public sector universities and degree awarding institutions have adopted this System for academic appointments.
The HEC’s governing body has recently amended the Tenure Track Statutes, in order to reward faculty for superior performance, increase time frame to acquire tenure in line with international best practice, infuse data driven and transparent evaluation and management process, and above all, incentivize excellence by introducing 35% TTS Premium for TTS faculty.
