Vice Chancellors Committee while recognizing the detrimental impact of proliferation in the number of institutions on the quality of education, advocated for an immediate halt to the establishment of new universities.
They also underscored the importance of consolidating existing institutions to enhance efficiency and optimize resource allocation.
In a concerted effort to address the pressing challenges faced by the higher education sector, the Vice Chancellors’ Committee was convened for a two-day meeting in Islamabad with the participation of more than 160 public and private universities from across the country.
The gathering provided a platform for the university heads to engage in comprehensive discussions and formulate strategic initiatives to navigate the turbulent landscape of the country’s tertiary education.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairperson of VCs’ Committee Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan and was also attended by Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum and divisional heads of HEC.
The Vice Chancellors of public sector universities unanimously voiced their concern over the financial challenges being faced by the universities. Emphasizing the pivotal role of financial resources in sustaining academic excellence, they called for immediate corrective actions by the government as well as by the management of the universities.
Furthermore, to streamline resource utilization, they stressed the need to curtail new development projects and redirect focus towards completing the ongoing projects particularly those in advanced stages of their completion.
While appreciating the Sindh government for a considerable increase in the budgetary allocation for higher education, the participants emphasized the significance of sustained financial support from provincial governments and urged other provinces to follow suit.
With a firm commitment to fiscal prudence, the Vice Chancellors resolved to implement stringent measures aimed at cutting unnecessary expenditure within universities. The proposal to appoint financial experts as Treasurers in universities, instead of officers from the general cadre or faculty members, was also agreed upon.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of embracing e-governance solutions to streamline administrative processes, enhance transparency, and facilitate data-driven decision-making.
