Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) to immediately halt Ph.D. programmes in its anatomy, histology, pharmacology, and forensic medicine departments due to a shortage of Ph.D. lecturers.
Ph.D. Programmes Admissions
The university has also been ordered to take down the advertisement for Ph.D. programme admissions. HEC Quality Assurance Division (QAD) Director Munir Ahmad Jat wrote to JSMU registrar to inform him that it had been reported that the university had advertised for admissions in basic medical sciences without having the necessary faculty in the sub-fields of anatomy, histopathology, pharmacology, and forensic medicine.
According to the HEC’s policy, he explained, the institution is permitted to provide level 7 and level 8 programs in the abovementioned sub-fields, provided that the required number of faculty members in each field is also met, in addition to other program requirements.
In light of this, he continued, the JSMU has been instructed to withdraw the advertisement and cease admissions in the sub-fields mentioned above unless the institution has the bare minimum of relevant faculty in those subjects.
HEC Letter
According to the letter, three academic members—assistant professor Dr. Quratul Ain Inam, assistant professor Dr. Uzma Naseeb, and assistant professor Dr. Abid Ali—have been nominated for Ph.D. admissions in biochemistry, a field of basic medical sciences.
The institution was instructed to adhere precisely to the HEC’s policies for the MS, MPhil, and Ph.D. equivalent programs, including the minimum requirements for faculty, program length, credit hours, and semester guidelines, as informed by the HEC.
The Postgraduate Programme Review Committee would keep an eye on the factors mentioned above during their visit to the university; the HEC representative also informed the JSMU registrar. He advised the JSMU to notify the QAD immediately in case of a faculty change so that the NOC status in the database can be updated.
He further stated that the HEC had the right to revoke the NOC if the university failed to exhibit its capacity and dedication to adhere to the HEC’s minimum rules and regulations.
