ISLAMABAD: The longstanding demand of the faculty members of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) to have their say in decision making of the university affairs is going to be fulfilled as the Senate on Monday approved amendments to the varsity’s ordinance.

In all public sector universities, faculty members have their representation in decision making bodies through their elected representatives. However, the IIOU has no representation of teachers in its decision making bodies.

The Senate in its session on Monday approved the International Islamic University Amendment Bill presented by Senator Mushtaq Ahmad.

The bill amends provisions of the IIUI ordinance about the composition of the board of governors and academic council and gives membership to the elected representatives of all four cadres of the university teachers, - lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors and professors - in the board of governors and the academic council.

Under amendments to ordinance, teachers’ elected representatives will be included in BOG and academic council of university

An official of IIUI said, “We had earlier introduced a similar bill through Senator Javed Abbasi in 2020 and it was approved by the standing committee in 2021 but then Senator Abbasi retired and the bill lapsed.” He said Senator Mushtaq introduced the current bill and after its approval from the Senate standing committee it was finally passed by the house.

Now the bill will go to the National Assembly and after its passage from the assembly it will be sent to the president for his assent after which it will become part of the ordinance.

The IIUI’s board of trustees at a meeting held on December 11, 2023 had approved the suggestion of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to give four seats in the board to the elected representatives of the teaching community of the university.

The IIUI officials said one professor, associate professor, assistant professor and lecturer each will be made part the of BOG and four associate professors, two assistant professors and two lecturers will be included in the academic council.

In the statement of objects and reasons, the mover of the bill stated that the hallmark of a democratic society is people’s representation in the decision making bodies. He said this principle is followed in almost all parts of the world including Pakistan.

“We can observe that institutions are built upon people’s wishes and they are given the basic right of representation in the decision making bodies of their institutions. Public sector universities, in this regard, do not stand an exception. In addition to this, the role of academicians in the decision making bodies of universities is pivotal. Without their adequate representation, these bodies cannot work efficiently.”

It said laws governing various public sector universities make it essential to have representation of teachers in their decision making bodies including syndicates, executive councils, board of governors. However, the IIUI unlike the other universities lacks basic requirements.

“The amendment bill strives to give effective representation to the elected teachers of the IIUI in decision making bodies of the university.”

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024