RAWALPINDI, June 28: The University of Arid Agriculture (UAA) has adopted a new criteria for the up-gradation of teaching posts, in line with the directives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to the universities.

The university syndicate has also approved the new HEC criterion for up-gradation of teaching posts, with effect from May 30, 2005.

According to a news release issued by the university, the policy was announced by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on the ‘World Teachers Day’ for public universities’ faculty members.

With the adoption of new criteria the post of lecturer has been up-graded to BPS-18, that of assistant professor to BPS-19, associate professor to BPS-20 and professor to BPS-21.

According to new eligibility criteria for recruitment of university teachers, the pre-requisite qualification for the post of lecturer will be a Master’s degree with first division and no third division in the whole academic career of the applicant.

However, the university may forward the case of a candidate for selection to HEC if nobody meets this criterion till Sept 30, 2008.

For the post of assistant professor, the candidate should have a PhD or a Master’s degree with four years’ experience. For associate professor, the candidate will be required to have 10 years’ teaching and/or research experience and must have eight research publications, with at least two publications in last five years, till Sept 30, 2008, besides a PhD in the relevant field.

The condition for research papers will be raised to 10 publications, including four published in the last five years, after the deadline in 2008.

Similarly, for the post of professor, a candidate must have a PhD degree with 15 years’ teaching and/or research experience and have 12 research publications, including three published in the last five years, till Sept 30, 2008.

After the 2008 deadline, a professor would be required to produce 15 research publications, including five in the last five years.

All research publications must be published in HEC-recognized journals.