PUNJAB’S higher education system is facing serious challenges due to the large number of post-graduate affiliated colleges. With over 800 public and 1,800 private colleges serving more than a million students, the current infrastructure is struggling to keep up with maintaining quality education standards. Originally designed for a smaller number of institutions and students, the system is now dealing with problems in administration, quality control, and academic supervision, raising concerns about the future of higher education in the province. One major issue is the lack of clear geographic boundaries for universities when affiliating colleges. This has resulted in universities like the University of the Punjab (PU) having an impractically large number of affiliated colleges spread across the country, and even internationally. For instance, PU has 628 affiliated colleges in Punjab, 27 in Islamabad, 4 in the Northern Areas, and 2 abroad. Such a wide reach makes it nearly impossible to monitor and ensure quality centrally. On the other hand, institutions like Government College University (GCU) Lahore have very few affiliations, highlighting the imbalance and inequality in the distribution of affiliated colleges among universities.
The imbalance in the distribution of affiliated colleges is largely due to the lack of a limit on the number of colleges a university can affiliate. This has left some universities overwhelmed by the sheer number of colleges they must manage, resulting in diluted focus and resources for maintaining quality assurance. This issue becomes even more critical with the introduction of more demanding programs like the Bachelor of Studies Four-Years (BS4Y) and the Associate Degree programs, which are part of the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) new Undergraduate Education Policy 2023. These programs require high-quality, interdisciplinary faculty, close academic supervision, and rigorous quality assurance—standards that are challenging to uphold in affiliated colleges without active support from the parent university. The challenges extend beyond administration to financial issues as well. With declining budgetary support for higher education, universities are struggling to invest in the infrastructure and human resources necessary to uphold educational standards in their affiliated colleges. The current model, where the Higher Education Department (HED) handles administration while universities focus on academic standards, is becoming unsustainable due to the growing scale and complexity of the education system.
To tackle these challenges, a complete overhaul of the affiliating system is required. One possible solution is the introduction of a Divisional University model. Under this model, each Division in Punjab would have a designated “Divisional University” tasked with overseeing and managing affiliated colleges within its specific area. These would be well-established, research-oriented institutions, while newer, smaller universities within the Division would focus on their own campus teaching and research. This approach would lead to a more balanced distribution of resources and responsibilities, enabling each university to concentrate on a manageable number of affiliated colleges. Universities that are limited to their geographic proximity would be better equipped to enhance monitoring and quality assurance. This territorial restriction would prevent universities from being stretched too thin, ensuring that each institution can closely and effectively oversee its affiliated colleges. Colleges offering more academically rigorous programs like the BS4Y should be affiliated with these Divisional Universities, guaranteeing that they receive the necessary attention and resources to uphold high academic standards.
Another vital step would be to establish College Councils within each university, dedicated to managing affiliated colleges. These councils would be tasked with raising the standards of teaching, research, and technological development, while also providing general oversight of the affiliated colleges. They would handle periodic curriculum reviews, systematic faculty training, and other academic initiatives. Crucially, these councils should include representatives from the affiliated colleges in the decision-making processes, ensuring that the needs and challenges of these colleges are directly and effectively addressed. Legislative backing is essential to successfully implement these reforms. The Government must grant universities the authority needed to effectively manage affiliated colleges within their designated jurisdictions. Additionally, it is crucial to allocate sufficient funding to divisional universities to develop necessary infrastructure, such as smart classrooms, and to support ongoing professional development for faculty. This investment is vital for maintaining the quality of education and providing universities with the resources required to manage their affiliated colleges efficiently.
Punjab’s higher education system faces significant challenges due to the large number of affiliated colleges, but these challenges are not insurmountable. By adopting strategic restructuring measures—such as implementing the Divisional University model, enforcing geographic restrictions on affiliations, establishing dedicated College Councils, and securing supportive legislation and funding—the province can strengthen its universities and affiliated colleges. This will help ensure that they provide high-quality education that meets the needs of both students and society. These strategies provide a way for universities to stay focused on their main academic tasks while also managing affiliated colleges well. This will lead to a fairer, more effective higher education system that can handle the increasing number of students in these colleges.
—The writer is a former Vice Chancellor, Government College University, Lahore.
