KARACHI: Varsities to be assessed on basis of research: Atta
KARACHI, June 3: The Higher Education Commission is considering assessing the performance of all universities funded by it on the basis of their academic research, citation index in journals of repute, patents developed by them and utilized in local industries, besides the originality of their research.
This was stated by the HEC’s Chairman, Dr Attaur Rehman, at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Dow University of Health Science’s School of Nursing on Saturday.
“The government is absolutely committed towards strengthening education at all levels, and with a view to seek self reliance and meaningful development, maximum focus was on higher education and research activities,” he said.
Prof Atta, mentioning that significant allocation was made in the higher education sector during the last five years, claimed that a 2,000 per cent raise was being made under the same head during the forthcoming fiscal year.
He said that universities had to help postgraduate students, researchers and scientists ensure appropriate application of available knowledge and engender fresh information on the basis of their research activities.
It was for the very purpose, he said, that the HEC was constituted, to support universities and research centres besides keeping a vigil on their endeavours, which ought to be original and beneficial to society in general, he elaborated.
Prof Atta said universities being extended maximum support, encouragement and offered substantial funding should play their role in developing a strong research culture, in all fields of science and technology.
This is being constantly reviewed by the HEC, he said, maintaining that it was expected that research would have its impact on the national progress and social development.
Earlier, Prof Masood Hameed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the Dow varsity, said the HEC, besides supporting research activities at the varsity, had also provided funds to initiate projects such as a digital library, school of nursing, and an institute of medical technicians.
This reflected the actual goals of the HEC, which also included producing manpower that could contribute towards the country’s national development and social wellbeing of the masses.
Prof Masood also thanked the Aga Khan University for its support in developing training manuals for programmes offered at the School of Nursing, which was already offering a BSc in Nursing with more than 48 students registered for it.
Earlier, the HEC Chairman, Prof Atta, laid the foundation of the Dow varsity’s Nursing School building within the premises of the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases.
The ceremony was also attended by Prof Sharaf Ali Shah, Project Director, DUHS School of Nursing, Manzoor Memon, Additional Health Secretary, Sindh government, Prof Saleem Ilyas, Coordinator, Community Health Sciences Department, DUHS, and Chairman, Neurology Department, Civil Hospital, and other faculty members.—APP
