The Higher Education Department set to re-advertise top university positions in KPK
Subsequent to the decision made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, the higher education department is set to reverse the appointment process for Vice-Chancellors at 19 public sector universities in the province and re-advertise the positions shortly.
Although the caretaker government had approved candidates for these top university positions six months ago, the appointments were halted and were kept pending till the formation of a new government after the February, 8 general elections.
The newly elected Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government in the province contested the caretakers' decision, arguing that they lacked the legal authority to appoint ice-Chancellors.
After extensive discussions at various forums, the cabinet decided in a meeting last Friday to cancel the entire VCs appointment process and re-advertise the positions.
According to media reports, they are waiting for the cabinet meeting minutes before floating the advertisement for these vacancies in newspapers. The KPK higher education department has also begun forming a high-powered academic search committee to interview candidates and recommend three candidates per university for the government to choose from.
The previous academic search committee's tenure ended in February 2024. The Vice-Chancellors vacancies were advertised during the last PTI government when Mahmood Khan was the Chief Minister, and candidates were interviewed from January 22 to January 26.
Currently, 24 public sector universities in the province are without regular Vice-Chancellors, with the tenure of five more university heads ending on March 16. Universities without regular Vice-Chancellors for approximately two years include Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak, University of Agriculture Dera Ismail Khan, University of Lakki Marwat, Hazara University Mansehra, University of Engineering and Technology Mardan, and Women University Swabi.
Additionally, seven universities have been without regular Vice-Chancellors for nine months: Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Shuhada-i-APS University of Technology Nowshera, Kohat University of Science and Technology, University of Peshawar, University of Science and Technology Bannu, and University of Engineering Peshawar. Universities without regular VCs for four months include Fata University Dara Adamkhel, Islamia College University Peshawar, University of Buner, Women University Mardan, and University of Chitral.
Newly established universities such as University of Agriculture Swat, University of Engineering and Applied Sciences Swat, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Swat, and University of Shangla also lack regular heads.
The current PTI government has cited the appointment of two academic search committee members by the caretakers as another reason for re-advertising VC positions. It has also indicated plans to amend the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, 2012, to change the VCs appointment procedure, asserting that under the current system, the Chief Minister has no role in the matter and all appointment powers rest with the academic search committee.
Higher education minister Meena Khan Afridi confirmed that the Vice-Chancellors posts would be re-advertised and stated, "VCs will be appointed after following all laid-down procedures."
