LAHORE, Nov 20: The Punjab University syndicate has approved the guidelines given by the Higher Education Commission regarding upgradation of teaching posts.

The HEC had notified the posts of lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor and professor, had been upgraded from BPS-17 to BSP-18, BPS-18 to BSP-19, BSP-19 to BSP-20 and BSP-20 to BSP-21, respectively.

The meeting presided over by Vice-Chancellor Arshad Mahmood on Monday also appreciated the steps taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the development of higher education in the country.

Registrar Prof Naeem Khan told Dawn that the syndicate had approved Rs50,000 as incentive for the faculty members whose research papers had been published by international journals.

The research publications had also been made part of ACRs of the faculty.

He said the syndicate also expressed reservation over the HEC criteria of ranking universities. He said the PU had won 360 of 368 inter-university competitions held during the given period and was holding examinations of 430 affiliated institutions but these had not been considered.

He said the performance of the varsity’s faculty would also be monitored.

The syndicate appreciated the HEC reforms and quality assurance measures to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The syndicate also approved the name of Dr Munawar Mirza as Prof Emeritus.