- HEC has written to Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of universities about faculty and administrative appointments.
- Selection Board proceedings must go before Syndicates or other statutory forums for detailed deliberation.
- Agendas must be shared with members on time, as set out in each university's Statutes.
- Compliance is linked to the Institutional Performance Review planned in the next two months.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has asked universities to keep merit at the centre of faculty and administrative hiring. In a letter to Vice-Chancellors and Presidents, it advised that Selection Board proceedings be properly presented before Syndicates or other relevant statutory forums for detailed deliberation and decision-making.
The letter says the Commission is committed to ensuring that appointment decisions are made through the prescribed statutory forums.
The Commission is committed to ensuring that appointment decisions are made through the prescribed statutory forums in a manner that upholds merit and institutional integrity.
Higher Education Commission, in a letter to Vice-Chancellors and Presidents
What the letter asks universities to do
The HEC has emphasised that agendas for Syndicate meetings, and for meetings of other relevant statutory forums, should be circulated among members promptly. The purpose is to give members enough time for proper deliberation before they sit down to decide.
The letter says important agenda items must be shared strictly in line with the timelines set out in each university's Statutes. It adds that members of the Syndicate and other statutory forums shall be given sufficient time to review the items and prepare adequately for the date and time of the meeting.
Integrity and transparency in decision-making
The Commission has stressed that there must be no compromise on the integrity and transparency of decisions on faculty and administrative positions. It has warned that any omission in this regard “is viewed with serious concern by the Commission.”
The letter says compliance will earn universities a reputation for merit and transparency in their appointment processes. It adds that this will ultimately contribute to the quality of education.
HEC's mandate
The letter recalls that the HEC is mandated to guide institutions in setting minimum standards for good governance and management. It is also responsible for providing guidelines on the minimum criteria and qualifications for the appointment and promotion of faculty, and for reviewing how they are implemented.
In addition, the Commission is mandated to cause the evaluation of the performance of institutions.
Link to the performance review
The HEC has also linked compliance with the advisory to the Institutional Performance Review (IPR). The Quality Assurance Agency of the HEC plans to carry it out during the next two months.
The Quality Assurance Agency of the HEC plans to conduct the Institutional Performance Review during the next two months, and compliance with the advisory has been linked to it.
Questions and answers
What has the HEC advised universities to do?
It has advised them to present Selection Board proceedings before their Syndicates or other statutory forums for detailed deliberation, and to circulate meeting agendas to members promptly.
Why does the timing of agendas matter?
The HEC says members need sufficient time to review agenda items and prepare properly, so agendas must be shared within the timelines prescribed in each university's Statutes.
How is the advisory linked to the Institutional Performance Review?
The HEC has linked compliance with the advisory to the Institutional Performance Review, which its Quality Assurance Agency plans to carry out over the next two months.
Image: Saadz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
