ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday established the Higher Education Commission through an ordinance which will replace the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The controlling authority of the new commission will be the prime minister or the chief executive, who will then appoint a chairperson, having international eminence who has made significant contribution as teacher, researcher or administrator. The chairperson will have the status of a federal minister.

The 10-member commission will have seven persons of international repute in the field of education, one Rector or Vice-Chancellor and two members from the private sector having made significant contribution in the higher education.

The commission will evaluate, improve and promote higher education, research and development by formulating policies, guiding principles and priorities for higher education institutions.

The commission will also evaluate performance of different higher education institutions, prepare through consultation with these institutions, plans for the development of higher education and express its opinion on such matters.

The commission will also prescribe conditions under which new institutions will be opened and operated including those institutions that are not part of the State educational systems.

The commission will also set up national or regional evaluation councils or authorize any existing council to carry out accreditation of institutions including their departments, faculties and disciplines by giving them appropriate ratings.

The commission will also help build capacity of existing councils or bodies in order to enhance the reliability of the evaluation carried out by them.

The commission will also advise the federal government and the provincial governments on proposals for granting a charter to award degrees in both public and private sector.

It will also submit to the federal government the recurring and development budgets for public sector institutions and allocate funds to public sector institutions out of bulk financial provision received from the government and other resources on performance and need basis.

It will have the authority to review and examine the financial requirement of public sector institutions, approve and provide funds to these institutions. While approving funds for a public sector institution, the commission will ensure that a significant proportion of the funds should be allocated to research support and libraries.

The commission will also advise institutions in raising funds from sources other than the government.

After the promulgation of the ordinance, all the funds, properties, rights, interest and liabilities against the UGC will pass to the commission.

Similarly the staff and officers of the UGC will also become employee of the commission.