Sources in the HEC said that following the discovery of the fake degrees presented by the Senate employees, the HEC was directed to look into the issues of fake degrees awarded in the name of public and private sector universities and institutions of higher learning. The HEC has been receiving complaints of fake degrees from quite some times, they added.
Following the direction, advisor to Prime Minister for Science and Technology and Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, constituted a four-member committee and assigned it the task not just to probe into specific cases on receipt of complaints but also recommend action.
Justice Saleem Akhtar (Retd) was nominated the chairman while Professor Dr S I Ali, former Vice-Chancellor, Karachi University, Professor Dr Anwar Gillani, Aga Khan University Karachi and Professor Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Vice-Chancellor, Karachi University were nominated members of the committee.
The issue of fake degrees is not only a matter of concern for the parents but also for the students as it poses great threat to their future. They wanted a clear policy and its strict implementation to eliminate the menace.
The Committee constituted by the HEC will work in close co-ordination with the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) of HEC. The QAC is currently headed by Professor Dr Abdul Rauf, former Rector of GIK Institute and currently Rector of Institute of Management and Technology of Higher Education Commission.
Other members include Vice Chancellors of various public and private sector universities as well as the Executive Director, HEC and Advisor Quality Assurance and Learning Innovation, HEC.
The QAC has already developed a comprehensive framework for award of M Phil and PhD degrees that will be applicable to all degrees to be awarded in future. Presently, universities have their own rules /policies in this regard.
The accreditation and attestation cell of HEC provides attestation and equivalence services on receipt of request from the degree holder or from a department. Diplomas/ Transcripts awarded by the chartered universities/ institutions, both in public and private sectors of the country are attested by HEC.
HEC also issues equivalence certificates to determine the equivalence of degrees/diplomas issued by accredited/ chartered universities/ institutions.
The determination of equivalence of credentials at secondary and higher secondary level is primarily the responsibility of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen Higher Education Commission.