Future of 2,500 students at stake

ISLAMABAD: The COMSATS put the future of the 2,500 student at stake as on Wednesday when the Higher Education Commission (HEC) declared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the COMSATS agreement with a UK-based university, of awarding the degrees after charging 2,000 pounds sterling as illegal, saying that it was recognised neither in Pakistan nor abroad.
Taking note of public outcry, the PAC of the National Assembly summoned the HEC as well as the management of the COMSATS to brief the committee on this issue.
The PAC met on Wednesday with Syed Khursheed Shah in chair. Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed attended but the Rector COMSATS and Pro Rector did not appear on the excuse that the Rector was out of the country while Pro Rector was not in good health. The PAC was not pleased and summoned the Rector and Pro Rector again on October 8.
Chairman HEC told the committee that the COMSATS in 2009 signed an agreement with UK based Lancaster University under dual degree programme and since then the students have paid 3.6 million pounds sterling. “The fees of degree programme of COMSATS is Rs475,000 but it was charging Rs1.3 million from a student under the dual degree programme,” said chairman HEC.
He told that a student gets admission on the assurance of the COMSATS management but the admission is given in violation of rules and without fulfilling the legal obligations.
Chairman HEC informed that the COMSATS neither got permission from its Board nor from the HEC nor from Pakistan Engineering Council for entering into agreement of dual degree programme with UK based Lancaster University
He told the committee that HEC did not approve the agreement yet, and even the Pakistan Engineering Council has also opposed this agreement on the basis of Washington accord.
The Chairman HEC proposed that the COMSATS should refund the fees to the students charged under MS degree from Lancaster University of the UK and invite teachers from Lancaster University.
PAC member Rohail Asghar questioned as to why the HEC did not object to such an agreement when it was initiated in 2010 and did take no action to terminate the same.
Another member Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho suggested that the management of the COMSATS should also be heard. Mehmood Khan Achakzai remarked that it was not the issue of some students but all of all students and it should be resolved.
He questioned whether or not the HEC had informed the Prime Minister about this issue and if they had communicated then what was the response from the there.
Clarifying HEC position the Chairman said that allegation of remaining silent was incorrect as since 2011 the HEC issued three notices to COMSATS about the illegality of their agreement of dual degree programme and even the Pakistan Engineering Council had also sent notices to the COMSATS for not recognising their dual degree programme.
He said the HEC has also approached the Vice Chancellor of the Lancaster University on this issue and told the commission that he was looking into that matter.
Chairman PAC Syed Khursheed Shah observed that no decision should be taken till the committee has heard the point of view of the management of the COMSATS and summoned the Rector and Pro Rector of the COMSATS on October 8 to explain their position and stance.
He also took strong note of the absence of the relevant federal secretary from the meeting and issued a directive that if any federal secretary would be absent without informing the PAC Secretariat, disciplinary action would be taken against him.