ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The managers of private universities in the capital are, without fulfilling the preconditions, exerting pressure on the Higher Education (HEC) to grant them degree-awarding status, reliable sources told Dawn.

In the year 2002, the cabinet had decided to give the institutions five years to meet the preconditions devised by the HEC for having degree-awarding status in the private sector. Otherwise, they would be asked to close their operations within the limits of the Islamabad Capital Territory.

However, the sources added, instead of meeting the required standards, the owners of the private universities were busy in search of someone who could help them cross the hurdle.

“Having contacts with the influential people at the helm of affairs, each of them has been trying to take the lead in getting the degree-awarding status for his institution,” the sources added.

At present, a number of universities are operating in the capital but according to the HEC, so far, only three — the Foundation University, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, and the Riphah International University — have the degree-awarding status.

“The privately-run universities (except the above three) do not meet the conditions in accordance with the revised criteria approved by the cabinet on February 27, 2002, for the establishment of new universities/degree-awarding institutions.”

The sources said that before granting charter to a university, both in private and public sector, the HEC made it sure that it should have four or more departments, out of which one should be in the basic sciences.

Under the HEC guidelines, teacher-student ratio should be 1:12 for science subjects whereas for general subjects it has been prescribed as 1:20.

The number of full-time teachers required per department is one professor, one associate professor, two assistant professors, two lecturers. Associate professor and professor should be PhD degree-holders. However, this condition would not be a prerequisite for professional colleges functioning as faculties of universities.

The library should have subscription to at least 15 current journals of international repute, besides having access to electronic journals.

Likewise, availability of at least 1,500 books from major international publishers in the relevant field is one of the prerequisites to be met by the universities before asking for a charter.

Hall/lecture theatres desirable according to the HEC conditions should be of 12 to 15 square-foot per student with two lecture-rooms per department.

Area requirement is ten acres, depending upon the location having potential for further development.

Under the HEC prescribed criteria, a university should have a covered area of minimum 100 square-foot per student besides having hostel facilities.

At least ten per cent of students should be given scholarship and ten per cent of the institutional budget should be specified for research.

In case of a new university it should have an endowment fund of Rs50 million secured in the name of the university. The university should also have tangible assets in the form of land/building of Rs100 million, besides working capital of Rs50 million.

The university should also furnish reports, returns and other relevant information, as the HEC may require to judge the financial sustainability and soundness of the sponsors.

This criterion was applicable to both public and private sector universities.

Similarly, campuses located in one city will be considered collectively as one unit for application of the new criteria.

Therefore, the campus of a private university located in other cities would be treated as a new institution and the same criterion will be applicable to each campus.