ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) clarifies that the Syndicate of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad has annulled appointment of some faculty members of the University due to violation of approved criteria for appointment of university teachers on Tenure Track System (TTS).
QAU’s 167th Syndicate meeting, held on April 12-2016, was chaired by Vice Chancellor of the University. Beside others, the Chairman HEC also attended the meeting as a Member of the Syndicate. The meeting reviewed anomalies in appointment of some faculty members, working on TTS, who have been appointed in violation of the prescribed criteria.
Although it was mentioned in the notifications that appointments shall be effective subject to endorsement by the Higher Education Commission, yet the University made these appointments in anticipation without waiting for the endorsement. Evaluation of these cases at HEC revealed that they do not qualify for these appointments as per approved criteria, and the same was also communicated to the University.
Discussion during the Syndicate meeting revealed that, though well aware of the fact that relevant faculty members did not qualify for appointment, the University deliberately recommended the cases in previous meeting of the Syndicate and managed approval of these cases.
An Assistant Professor, who was appointed as Associate Professor, had published only one research paper in HEC recognized research journal against requirement of 10 for the purpose.
Similarly, an Associate Professor was appointed after two years of service on Tenure Track as against minimum requirement of four years. Earlier he had gone to the court to plead the case but the court had rejected his plea. Unfortunately, the Syndicate was kept in dark about the court’s decision and the individual was appointed from the back date and paid millions of rupees as salary with retrospective date.
Furthermore, in another case the faculty member had assumed an unauthorized academic administration position in violation of the Tenure Track Statutes. The duration on this position could not be counted towards appointment, still the University went ahead with the decision which was against the rules.
It is reiterated that withdrawal of appointment letters of these faculty members of QAU was taken based on evaluation reports and discussion in the Syndicate.