ISLAMABAD: The degrees of all students of Al-Khair University, enrolled up to April 30, 2009, including graduates who studied at affiliated colleges and campuses, will be recognised subject to the fulfilment of formalities and in line with the rules and regulations, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) decided on Friday.

The degrees of students who enrolled and studied after Oct 17, 2011 at the main campus in Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will also be recognised. However, the HEC decided that MS, MPhil and PhD programmes of this university will not be recognised as the varsity was not allowed to start these programmes.

HEC also decided that new admissions into the university will be banned as already communicated to it since May 20, 2016.

MS, MPhil, PhD will not be recognised as varsity was not allowed to start these programmes, HEC says

After pointing out many discrepancies in degrees, HEC had in 2016 stopped recognising all degrees issued by the university, putting the futures of genuine degree holders at stake as well.

HEC spokesperson Aayesha Ikram said the commission conducted a long and hard review of the proliferation of illegal affiliations granted by Al-Khair University, AJK across Pakistan.

“It was revealed that deliberate acts of omission and commission by the Al-Khair University had played havoc with the careers and lives of thousands of students besides defeating sanctity of the higher education sector,” she said, adding that in this backdrop and in order to alleviate discrepancies around degrees awarded by this university, the commission has decided to recognise degrees of students enrolled up to April 30, 2009.

A statement issued by the HEC on Friday says: “The recognition of professional degrees (LLB/ DHMS/ BHMS/ B Architecture/ BSc Engineering/ BE Electrical etc.) will be subject to registration by relevant professional accreditation councils.”

However, the degrees awarded between 2009 and 2011, when admissions in the university were banned, will not be recognised.

Therefore, students who were enrolled and studied after Oct 17, 2011 at affiliated colleges and campuses of the university other than at the main campus at Bhimber, in violation of the commission’s directions, will have to appear in a comprehensive test for the recognition of their awards.

Students will have to obtain 50pc marks in these tests to have their degrees verified.

HEC has decided that all the expenses for the tests will be borne by Al-Khair University which will also have to reimburse students enrolled after Oct 17, 2011 at affiliated institutes and campuses other than the main campus.

The students will also be entitled to claim any other damages from the university for wasting their time and money. Students whose degrees are not recognised by HEC will be entitled to three times the fee and other expenses they incurred.

HEC has decided that the attestation and verification of degrees will only be resumed on the basis of data of 75,894 graduates already submitted by the university. In case of any discrepancies in the data, further disciplinary action will be taken against the varsity.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2018