A Higher Education Commission (HEC) team Thursday headed by Prof. Dr. S. Zulfiqar Gillani, Head Postsecondary Education Reforms Unit (PERU) of Higher Education Commission visited International Islamic University (IIU) where it briefed and discussed about implementation and challenges of HEC undergraduate policy.
The discussion and briefing session was attended by IIUI Rector Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, IIUI , President IIUI Dr. Hathal bin Hamoud Al-Otaibi, university Vice Presidents, DGs, Deans and senior faculty members.
Prof. Gillani, in his presentation on the policy and its implementation gave a detailed future landscape by discussing its salient features, expected outcomes, role of universities, nature of the policy, participation of faculty and benefits for the students.
He highlighted various aspects such as split degree facility, compulsory advisement for students, preparation of curriculum and syllabi by faculty and revamping of the Quality Enhancement Cells. He also elaborated the objectives such as competency based learning and specialization, while he added that the policy’s approach is “ cross cutting”. He said the policy is focused to release the faculty and students to teach and learn with an approach to challenge.
On the occasion, Professor Gillani hoped that IIUI leadership will be of great help and cooperation in terms of implementation of policy and feedback by the varsity.
Speaking on the occasion, IIUI Rector Dr. Masoom Yasinzai hailed the HEC’s policy initiative. He said this is the time when teachers must already start deliberating about the preparation of curriculum and syllabus. He vowed that IIUI and its faculty will be interactive and ready to convey feedback regarding implementation and challenges of the policy. He also identify strengths of the policy with the relevancy of IIUI and highlighted that university will make sure implementation of this national policy.
IIUI President Dr. Hathal bin Hamoud Al-Otaibi apprised on the occasion that that the university had already started deliberations and brain storming on the policy and the faculty is well informed with the approved policy. The IIUI President opined that university will be among first ranks to implement this policy in the light of guidelines of HEC.
He congratulated HEC on a comprehensive policy while saying that IIUI’s faculty and management will be among leading ranks to implement the policy. He told that the academic fraternity has appreciated the policy and they have termed it as a milestone for academic excellence.
Meanwhile, IIUI Vice President Dr. Ahmed Shuja Syed, Dean Social Sciences Dr. Samina Malik and other senior faculty members shared their views. In the question answer session, the faculty and the HEC team had a very brief discussion on possible challenges of implementation and salient features of the policy.