HEC Bans 13 Universities for MPhil & PhD Admissions

Higher Education Commission has the mandate to regular the higher education within Pakistan and the universities are recognized by HEC to give admission to students and their degrees are also recognized by HEC. Now HEC has banned the distance learning programs in about 13 well known universities to grant admissions to the students in the MPhil and PhD programs. HEC has stated the reasons that these universities did not comply with the HEC approved guidelines.
HEC conducted the physical visits to the campuses of these universities and they found that the universities did not have adequate faculty in the concerned disciplines. There are about 4000 students, who will be impacted by this decision. Now HEC has directed the universities to shift these students to the regular programs of the universities.
Banned Universities
Following universities were banned by HEC Quality Assurance Division for grant of admission in the MPhil and PhD programs:
• University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
• Virtual Campus, COMSATS Institute of Information
Technology, Islamabad
• University of Peshawar, Peshawar
• Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan
• Islamia University, Bahawalpur
• University of Sindh, Jamshoro
• Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan
• Government College University, Faisalabad
• International Islamic University, Islamabad
• University of Baluchistan, Quetta
• The University of Faisalabad
• IBA Sukkur
• Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur
HEC issued the letter to these universities to stop admission in the MPhil and PhD programs, which fall in the distance learning programs till the final decision and the final recommendation by the committee. HEC banned the admission to these universities till further notice by HEC.
No Proper Policy
It is necessary to mention that HEC will formulate the policy about the distance learning programs. HEC checks the quality of the education in these programs on this policy that is implemented for regular degree programs.
HEC has drafted the new policy about the distance learning programs but it is not approved yet. There are about 70,000 students, who are enrolled in the distance learning programs in various universities of the country.