HEC directs universities to stress on quality

ISLAMABAD, The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has cautioned all the universities and degree awarding institutions in the country to follow the criteria for award of M.Phil/MS and PhD degrees.

HEC Chairman Dr Javaid R Laghari has cautioned vice chancellors of all the universities that HEC would not recognise those MPhil/MS and PhD degrees, which do not fulfil HEC quality criteria.

The development schemes submitted by such universities would be put on hold till such time all HEC criteria is satisfactorily met by the institution, said a news release issued on Wednesday.

According to the criteria, 16 years of schooling or four-year education (130 credit hours) after HSSC/F.A./FSc/Grade 12 equivalent will be required for admission in the M.Phil/MS Programme leading to PhD.

GRE (International) Subject test will be necessary at the time of admission to M.Phil/MS Programme leading to PhD.

According to the minimum acceptable scores criteria, 40 percent percentile score is valid for admissions till December 31, 2009 and 45 percent percentile till December 31, 2010.

Fifty percent percentile score will be valid till December 31, 2011 and 60 percent percentile will be valid for admissions thereafter.

For presently continuing students (Admissions before January 11, 2010), the candidates must pass the GRE (International) subject test before submission of PhD Dissertation.

In disciplines where this test is not available, the test will be made available locally by National Testing Service (NTS).

If the test is not available in NTS subject list, then a University Committee consisting of at least three PhD faculty members in the subject area and approved by the HEC will conduct the test at par with GRE (International) subject test.

Before moving into the PhD programme, candidates will need to complete 30 credit hours, out of which 24 credit hours will be for course work, which may lead to the award of M.Phil/MS/Equivalent Degree.

The minimum CGPA should be 3.00 or First Division in MS/M.Phil/Equivalent Degree for continuing into PhD. Additional PhD level course work of at least 18 credit hours followed by a comprehensive examination and an open defense of Dissertation is essential for the award of PhD degree.

Acceptance/publication of at least one research paper in an HEC approved “X” category journal is essential for the award of Ph.D. degree (“Y” in case of Social Sciences only).

The Plagiarism Test must be conducted on the Dissertation before its submission to the two foreign experts, as described below.

The Ph.D. Dissertation must be evaluated by at least two Ph.D. experts from technologically/academically advanced foreign countries in addition to local Committee members.

A copy of PhD Dissertation (both hard and soft) must be submitted to HEC for record in PhD Country Directory.

There should be at least three relevant full time PhD Faculty members in a department to launch the PhD programme.

The maximum number of PhD students under the supervision of a full time faculty member is five, which may be increased to eight under special circumstances in certain teaching departments subject to prior approval of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).