As the Axact fake degree scandal continues to make headlines, it has also brought to the fore the problem of unrecognised degree awarding institutions that are currently operational across the country. To understand the magnitude of the crisis and how the authorities plan to deal with the issues that have arisen in the wake of the Axact scandal, Dawn spoke to Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad. The HEC is the sole authority in the country that can determine whether or not an educational institution can award degrees to its students.

Q: What powers does the HEC have to stop an unrecognised university from operating?

A: Over the last few years, the HEC has been actively going after higher educational institutions that claim to have degree-awarding status, but don’t actually have a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to do so. Whenever such an institution comes into the limelight, the HEC immediately takes notice and asks its proprietors to fulfill the required criteria or close shop.

We also write to the provincial governments regularly to take action against such institutions. The HEC also regularly advertises the names of the universities that it doesn’t recognise, warning parents and students not to seek admission there. The HEC doesn’t have the power to use force, however, the provincial governments can take special measures against such institutions so that they cant continue running their operations.

Q: What other powers does the HEC need to effectively curb operations of fake degree-awarding institutions?

A: If someone claims to run an institution whose degree is recognised somewhere, the HEC cannot do anything about it. The HEC is the sole authority to award NOCs to degree-awarding institutions and has a fully-operational mechanism to verify an issued degree. We examine whether it carries the stamp of a genuine university; this is how institutions such as the HEC operate throughout the world. But more proactive collaboration between HEC and the provincial governments can be more effective and we are working on developing such a relationship.

Q: How can parents and students, at an individual level, stay away from unrecognised institutions?

A: Besides maintaining a separate portal on its official website, which carries the complete list of recognised degree-awarding institutions, the HEC takes out full-page advertisements in leading newspapers to highlight the subject just before admissions season. It is a serious issue, for which the government must take primary responsibility. However, parents and students both must do due diligence before joining an institution to find out whether it is a recognised institute or not.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2015

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