THE Higher Education Commission (HEC) oversees, regulates and accredits institutions of higher education in the country and their performance.

It also publishes lists of recognised universities and degree-awarding institutions and illegal and fake institutions across the country. Advertisements from various ‘universities’ keep appearing in newspapers, inviting applications for enrollment of students and announcing vacancies for teachers.

Some of them are the University of Turbat; Benazir Bhutto University, Khairpur Mir’s; Virtual University, Jacobabad; Women University, Swabi; Jinnah Sindh University; Mir Chakar Khan Rind University, Sibi.

I wish to know if these universities, and others like them, are recognised by the HEC. If not, can these institutions use the word ‘university’ in their advertisements? Does the HEC keep a check on that? I urge the HEC to publish the latest list of recognised universities without delay.

Prof Aziz Qureshi

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2021