ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC)’s website is carrying inaccurate information about the appointment of teachers in public and private sector universities for over nine months, depriving many potential candidates of a chance to apply for the jobs.

The website stated that at least eight-year post-PhD experience was required for the appointment of a professor and four-year post-PhD experience for the post of an associate professor.

However, last year, HEC relaxed the the criteria but the website is yet to be updated about it.

Website is yet to be updated about relaxations announced by commission for hiring of professors in July 2015

According to the website, the minimum qualification for the appointment of a professor is 15-year teaching/research experience in a HEC recognised university or a postgraduate institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a national or international organisation.

The website stated that after June 30, 2015, at least eight year post-PhD level experience in an HEC recognised university or postgraduate institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a national or international organisation is required.

“Or 10-year post-PhD teaching/research experience in a recognised university or a postgraduate institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a national or international organisation.”

For the post of a professor, the applicant must have 15 research publications with at least five publications in the last five years in the HEC recognised journals.

While describing the criteria for the appointment of an assistant professor, the website stated that 10-year teaching/research experience in an HEC recognised university or a postgraduate institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a national or international organization was required.

It said after June 30, 2015, at least four-year post-PhD level experience in an HEC-recognised university or postgraduate institution or professional experience in the relevant field would be required.

“Or five-year post-PhD teaching/research experience in an HEC recognised university or a postgraduate institution or professional experience in the relevant field in a national or international organisation with a minimum 10 research publications (with at least four publications in the last five years in the HEC recognised journals).”

However, HEC on July 8, 2015, through an official letter informed all universities that it had decided to give relaxation in the post-PhD experience of eight years for the appointment of professors and four-year for the appointment of associate professors.

But the HEC did not update its website, depriving a large number of potential candidates, particularly those living abroad, of a chance to apply for the posts.

“The National Quality Assurance Committee at its meeting held on May 15, 2015, decided to relax the implementation of the requirements of post-PhD experience of eight years for the appointment of professors and four-year for the appointment of associate professors in the universities/degree awarding institutions of the country for a further period of five years (up to June 30, 2020),” stated the HEC letter issued on July 8, 2015.

When contacted, HEC spokesperson Ayesha Ikram confirmed that last year the HEC had relaxed the post-PhD experience. Asked about the commission’s website which was spreading wrong information about the appointment criteria, she said: “Last year through official letters we informed all universities about our decision of giving relaxation on the post-PhD experience. As far as the website is concerned, we are going to update this information in coming days as we have started working on it,” she said.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2016