KARACHI, April 12: A delegation of four senior professors belonging to different universities of Turkey called on Karachi University's vice-chancellor Prof (Dr) Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui on Monday.

The delegation members, including Prof (Dr) Adulvahit Cakir, Prof (Dr) Zaydun Ersoe, Prof (Dr) Ulker Akkutay and Prof (Dr) Tanvir Wasti, discussed research and education affairs of mutual interest with the vice-chancellor.

Karachi University's Dean of Arts Prof (Dr) Abuzar Wajidi, Dean Islamic Studies Prof (Dr) Abdul Rashid, Dean Pharmacy Prof (Dr) Aijaz Baig, Dean Education Prof (Dr) Fatima Razi and Dean Science Prof (Dr) Iqbal Mohsin were present on the occasion.

Dr Tanvir Wasti of Civil Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, told the vice-chancellor about performance and resources of the university. He also talked about the problems being faced in the field of research and creative work.

He said that duration of pharmacy course in most of the varsities of Turkey would be extended up to five years from 2005. The course was being upgraded, as a number of European countries had not been accepting the degrees of Turkish varsities, he said adding that the BSc and BCom courses will also be upgraded.

Talking to the delegation, Dr Aijaz Baig said that BPharmacy programme had been replaced with the five-year DPharmacy programme in University of Karachi. The Turkish delegation raised their apprehensions about the negative effects of increasing number of private institutes on public education sector.

They said that the increase in number of private institutions would be affecting the quality and standard of education in Karachi. Dr Pirzada Qasim expressed his concern on the declining trend in expertise of English in Turkey and informed that they were already focussing it in Karachi University.

About the concern expressed by the delegation about the increasing number of private education institutes, he said the Higher Education Commission used to issue warning notices on reports of decrease in quality education. He said that no university or degree awarding private institute could be set up without acquiring NOC.

Dr Tanveer Wasti underlined the need for collaboration and exchange of research and scientific information by visiting professors in the varsities of both the countries, particularly between the University of Karachi and Turkish varsities. He said that he would raise this matter with the HEC chairman and stress the need for signing MoUs in better interest of students of both the countries. - PPI