KARACHI, Aug 12: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that coordinated measures are being taken for promotion of higher education and improvement in its quality.

More steps are in hand to bring research, teaching and development schemes relating to higher education at universities in conformity with the modern day demands.

The governor said this while chairing a meeting of vice-chancellors of public sector universities here on Saturday where the decisions taken at the Islamabad meeting of the Chancellor’s Committee were also reviewed.

The governor was informed that more than 2,500 PhD scholars were registered with the universities of the province and it was expected that around 900 scholars would complete their doctorate this year.

It was noted that universities in Sindh had made remarkable headway in the adoption of the four-year Bachelors Degree, Tutor Track System and other standards of Higher Education Commission.

The meeting constituted a five-member committee for making recommendations regarding matters concerning HEC standards as well as in various other fields. The committee comprises vice-chancellors of the Sindh University, Karachi University, Dow Medical University, NED University and the Agriculture University, Tandojam.

Its recommendations will particularly incorporate suggestions with regard to harmony between professional organisations like the Pakistan Engineering Council and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council for professional universities and the HEC.

Dr Ibad made it clear that the authority to appointment vice-chancellors of universities would rest only with the governor/chancellor, and for this purpose, a search committee had been formed. The search committee itself was appointed by the governor.

The governor told the participants of the meeting that the grading system for private sector universities in the province had now been done away with. He pointed out that certain misunderstandings had been cropping up because of the system.

Now other options could be used for ensuring educational standard and facilities at the universities, he added.

He emphasised the need for providing effective guidance to youth at the universities with regard to career planning.

He also stressed on keeping a constant watch on the opportunities available at the national and international levels and passing on the necessary information and guidance about the same to youth.

Taking notice of the lack of interest in youth in the vacancies of the Federal Service Commission and Superior Services, the governor directed vice-chancellors to play their due role and, in this respect, laid stress on cooperation between HEC and universities and also on chalking out joint programmes.

Besides VCs of public sector universities, the meeting was attended by Director IBA, Governor’s Adviser on Higher Education Abdul Wahab Shaikh, Principal Secretary Mohammed Saleem Khan, Additional Secretary Maj Aftab Lodhi, Deputy Secretary Fazeelat Mehdi and other officials.—APP