Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Although the National Internship Programme (NIP) is introduced, but introduction of the training programmes at the grassroots will have an impressive impact on education.

This was discussed in the standing committee on Tuesday with Senator Nauman Khattak in the chair.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) officials told the body that the comprehensive strategies regarding professional training of the students are underway and soon they would be finalised. They said internships should be offered in every field, including medical and engineering.

The HEC officials said further the industrial sector would be taken on board in this regard. They suggested eight-week training mandatory for each discipline’s degree.

“How is this possible in small cities of the country where industries are a few?” asked a committee member. To which, HEC head Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said everything is possible, adding that the students of non-industrial cities would be accommodated with the help of other institutions.

Commenting on the country’s engineering sector, the committee chairman said that telecom sector was still dependent on foreign countries for introduction of 3G and 4G internet services. He asked, “Why we need to hire foreigner consultants in many sectors?” The HEC official said the country was short of professionals.

A National University of Science and Technology (NUST) official said the Tenure Track System (TTS) has been introduced in the country to provide financial aid to teachers, adding that under the system teachers are being highly paid for their publications, but these publications have no impact on industries.

Assistant professors, associate professors and professors are eligible to apply for TTS.

The committee suggested that an autonomous entity should be established to keep a check in this regard. The entity will consider total number of publications, types, journals and their outputs as well as supervision of occurrence of other relevant activities in the field.

All members endorsed this idea and also suggested special funds in the annual budget for the body. However, an official from HEC Punjab stressed on the quality of education instead of increasing number of educational institutions.

He said, “The launch of new universities and their sub-campuses is on the rise while fundamental things in this regard are being ignored. The training of faculty members, creation and strengthens of quality enhancement cells are neglected.”