| Universities All Set to Gradual Resumption of Operations from 15th | Universities All Set to Gradual Resumption of Operations from 15th | <p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Chairman HEC Rebuts News About 'Single Policy for All Universities' </strong><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, September 11, 2020: Committed to upholding the Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines shared by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the universities countrywide are all set to start a phase-wise reopening procedure, resuming their operations as per the Government's instructions on September 15. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">This was stated by Chairman HEC while addressing the 32nd Vice Chancellors (VCs) Committee meeting. More than 150 VCs, Rectors, or Presidents of universities participated in the meeting to discuss in detail the reopening plans and procedures.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Addressing the university heads, Mr. Banuri said the HEC as well as the government have full confidence in the VCs, that they will be able to adopt all measures needed for protection of the campus community without compromising the quality and delivery of education. He said COVID-19 has rendered almost all the academic operations harder, so it required the dedicated personal leadership of the Vice Chancellors to inspire both faculty and students, and ensure that educational standards are maintained and anti-Covid SOPs are strictly enforced. "I call upon all of you to resist any attempts to lower the quality of education," he emphasised.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Chairman HEC affirmed that the universities will follow the HEC's guidelines -- available at HEC website -- to contain the spread of COVID-19 and will firmly implement their respective reopening policies. These guidelines include the permission to open universities on 15 September, measures to screen out potentially infected individuals, and the minimum SOPs to be followed on campus. These measures are to wear face masks in public places, maintain social distance, and undertake strict monitoring to identify and isolate any incidence of the disease. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Within these guidelines, universities have to adopt suitable policies regarding rotation of courses or other measures to ensure proper social distancing and manage population density. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">He strongly rebutted the news circulating in a section of press that HEC has directed all universities to adopt a 'single policy for rotation of courses or managing social density. He said the universities should adopt the policies and measures that suit their respective circumstances, and in line with their local needs. "The most important responsibility of the Vice Chancellors is to announce clear and unambiguous policies, assign responsibilities to various key personnel (both faculty and staff members), establish proper lines of communication, refrain from arbitrary or ad hoc policy changes, and remain in personnel command of the evolving situation". He said that they must maintain total vigilance to prevent and control any incidents of virus recurrence, including through active surveillance of health conditions, earmarking isolation facilities, and facilitating access to medical and isolation facilities. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">He advised university leaders to keep in close touch with district administration officials, health departments, and medical universities in their vicinities to seek support in case of any need. He said that the government and health departments have assured of providing assistance all-possible assistance to universities, and that HEC was available to provide advice or ensure timely liaison with government entities.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Convener of the VC Committee, Dr. Muhammad Ali, VC of Quaid e Azam University, assured the HEC Chairman that universities are committed to complying with the government instructions, following all possible precautions, and implementing the safety protocols prescribed by HEC, even though he would personally have preferred a single policy in order to reduce the decision making burden on VCs. He proposed that a follow-up meeting be held in the near future to review progress. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">On the occasion, a number of universities provided details of the policies they had already announced and publicised. These include Punjab University, GIK Institute, Sukkur IBA; Women's University of Swabi; Karakoram International University, GCWU Sialkot, and others. Some VCs shared the unique challenges they faced, and asked for support to resolve them. A handful of universities hadn't yet announced their reopening plans or policies, but they promised to do so forthwith. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Chairman HEC appreciated all the universities that had demonstrated due diligence in adopting and publicising their reopening plans, and stressed upon the few remaining universities to do so immediately.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"> <span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;">===============</span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><br></strong></p> | 12-09-2020 10:37:54 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/Universities-Resumption.aspx |
| Universities Preparing for Reopening of Campuses | Universities Preparing for Reopening of Campuses | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, September 2, 2020: Universities nationwide are developing policies and procedures in expectation of a governmental decision to reopen campuses from September 15, 2020, and in the light of guidance provided by HEC.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The 31<sup>st</sup> Vice Chancellors Committee Meeting was held online, and attended by over 150 Vice Chancellors and Rectors from across the country. The meeting considered various options on related issues, including staggering of courses, hybrid classes, class attendance, opening of hostels, management of transport services, health monitoring on campus, and SOPs for student safety.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Chairman HEC Tariq Banuri advised the university heads to announce their policy well in time, in a clear and unambiguous manner, and share it proactively with faculty members and students.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">A number of Vice Chancellors, including UVAS, KEMU, Sucker IBA, KFUEIT, KIU, FJWU, PIFD, SBBWU, informed the meeting about the actions they had already taken in accordance with the HEC guidelines. Others urged that VCs should be given flexibility in choosing the model that best suits the conditions on their campuses. Chairman HEC expressed appreciation for the actions already taken. He also assured the participants that the HEC policies are based on a recognition of the diversity of conditions, saying: "You are the captains of your ships, and we have full confidence in you. We hope that under your leadership, our universities will ensure both the safety of students and faculty and the effective delivery of educational content." He said all universities must maintain total vigilance to prevent and control any incidents of virus recurrence, including through active surveillance of health conditions, earmarking isolation facilities, and facilitating access to medical and isolation facilities.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">There was an active discussion about two major issues, opening up of hostels and organizing transportation with proper safety protocols. It was agreed that while a single policy might not work in all conditions, most universities would have to reduce the number of students to be accommodated in hostels. Depending on their situation, universities may have to restrict residencies to students with higher needs, e.g., final year students, students facing internet connectivity issues at home, students needing practical work, or first year students. On the other hand, universities with entirely residential setups may need to limit the interaction of their resident students with outsiders.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Regarding transportation issues, universities may publicize appropriate SOPs, and organize training sessions for drivers and conductors to sensitize them to precautionary practices.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Chairman informed the Vice Chancellors that HEC is in contact with the National Command Operation Centre, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education to intimate them about the universities strategies. The committee agreed to reconvene after a month to review progress and adapt the strategy to the evolving situation.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">===============<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><br></p> | 02-09-2020 11:40:27 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/Reopening-of-Campuses.aspx |
| HEC Alerts Students about Fake News on Education | HEC Alerts Students about Fake News on Education | <p><strong style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;">Islamabad, June 15, 2020</strong><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;">: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has alerted students and faculty members about false information being circulated by anti-education groups through WhatsApp and social media forums. Students are advised to verify HEC-related information from its website </span><a href="http://www.hec.gov.pk/">www.hec.gov.pk</a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;">.</span></p><p>HEC has clarified that contrary to some news report, the HEC website has not been hacked. The fake information consists simply of crude photoshop images designed by some persons pushing anti-education agendas and circulated by them through their WhatsApp and social media links. These images pretend to be screenshots of the HEC website, but are just manipulations of other downloaded content from the website. They pertain to a variety of topics, but their common aim is to advocate a lowering of educational standards in Pakistan, e.g., by canceling exams, canceling all educational activities including online education, or disrupting admissions or scholarship processes. <br></p><p>While there have been cyber-attacks on the HEC website, which appear have originated from servers outside the country, HEC technical teams have been working round the clock to ward off these attacks. <br></p><p>Students, academic and research community as well as public, availing or inquiring about HEC programmes and services, are requested to exercise vigilance and trust no other resource except the HEC website, and authentic social media pages that are linked to it. Should they need any confirmation, it is advised to reach out to the respective focal person of HEC. <br></p><p>All these activities have also been reported to the cybercrime unit of the Federal Investigation Agency.<br></p><p>===============<br></p><p><br></p> | 15-06-2020 16:22:17 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/HEC-Fake-News-Alert.aspx |