LAHORE: The Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) carried out a massive reshuffle of its department heads.

The university Syndicate in its 78 meeting held on Jan 21 appointed 23 heads of departments (HODs). The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Bushra Mirza and attended by Home Economic University VC Dr Kanwal Amin, Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur’s Dr Saiqa Imtiaz, Women University Multan VC Dr Uzma Quraishi, Higher Education Additional Secretary Amtul Qudus, Khurshid A Malik, MPAs Uzma Kardar, Sumera Ahmad, Sadia Sohail Rana and officials from administrative departments.

The Syndicate approved the recommendations forwarded by the university’s Academic Council, finance and planning committee and selection boards, including the appointment of 13 professors and associate professors under the Tenure Track System (TTS), setting up a software engineering department, introduction of Bachelor of Physiotherapy, one-year MEd and 18-month BEd programmes, Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality, PhD Management Sciences, MPhil Special Education and MBA specialisation.

Among other recommendations, the Syndicate also approved appointment of heads of different departments for three years. It also adopted a current agenda of appointing 23 heads of departments despite protests by at least two members over the last minute inclusion.

The sources also said that three HODs were removed as they were working on additional administrative posts.One of the HODs removed from the post, on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the heads were changed on a pick-and-choose basis. She said ethically the most senior professor in the department should be appointed as its heads, but juniors were favoured.

LCWU Vice Chancellor Dr Bushra Mirza told Dawn that the appointment of HODs had been unanimously decided by the Syndicate according to rules. Ruling out favourtism, she said no member had raised any objection to the appointments.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021