ISLAMABAD: Participants of a roundtable dialogue on Thursday discussed governance issues in higher education sector including funding, quality education, and many others. The dialogue was organised by Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA). Senior faculty members from across the country and representatives of civil society attended the dialogue. Attendants said that autonomy of universities was on stake which ultimately affects the educational quality in the universities. The participants maintained that elected faculty and student representatives should be given nominations in statutory bodies of universities to promote democratic culture in the varsities, adding that through this approach, capable persons would be appointed to key positions such as vice chancellors. The speakers said that provincial governments should play their due role and meet the growing needs of higher education sector and universities through provision of required funding, in the light of 18th constitutional amendment. They emphasised federal and provincial governments to take all concerned stakeholders on board, especially the elected faculty representatives, in formulation of policies related to higher education. They were of the view that closed-door policies had resulted in low ranking of Pakistani higher education system both at regional and international levels. It was high time to review all policies and all higher education bodies should work according to the mandate and limits prescribed by Constitution of Pakistan, they said. The speakers lamented that the higher education governance model was based on dictatorial mindsets. They demanded to restore the ‘democracy’ in higher education as per the 1973 Constitution. They said well established universities like Karachi University, Punjab University and Peshawar University were formed on democratic principles, and other universities should take heed from them. They further stressed that Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the government should respect university autonomy and academic freedom. The university autonomy implies the strengthening of the statutory forum not the vice-chancellors, they said. The speakers said the appointment of vice-chancellors/presidents/rectors of universities should be made through a transparent and merit based approach, and political interference in appointments should be curtailed. The culture of extension should be discouraged, they said. The extension of incompetent heads of institutes spoils the research, teaching and overall culture of the institute. Perhaps, the biggest hurdle in transparency and elevation of higher education was the incompetent and corrupt heads of institutes, the dialogue participants lamented. The heads of education institutes should present their progress to faculty and students after each year, they said. They suggested that this practice will bring transparency to the affairs of universities and was vital for uplifting of higher education in Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, November 16th 2017.