RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and Government College University (GCU) Lahore have launched the International Split PhD Scholarship Programme for the faculty of public sector colleges and universities of Punjab.

PHEC Chairman Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin and GCU Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Hassan Amir Shah signed the 33-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Arfa Software Technology Park regarding the funding, eligibility criteria and other initial standard operating procedures for the International Program.

According to the Split PhD program, the selected teachers would spend a year at the leading foreign universities for their research work at the funding of the government, which includes all their expenses including admissions fee, stipend, book allowance, medical, travelling cost and settlement allowances etc. However, the PhD scholars would complete their two year course work at GCU Lahore, where foreign faculty would also be invited for conducting workshops under the said program.

According to the accord, the PHEC would initially provide six scholarships worth Rs 28.92 million for the year 2017-18 for the launching of a pilot Split PhD Scholarship Program in the fields Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. The GCU Lahore would advertise the Spilt PhD Program, and would process all the admissions. However, a Joint Selection Committee comprising representatives of GCU Lahore and PHEC will shortlist the candidates based on the approved criteria

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Nizamuddin said that the Spilt PhD program aimed to maximize opportunities for higher learning and research for the teachers of public sector higher education institutions. “We are determined to enhance the capacity of the faculty of Higher Education Institutions by offering them an international exposure and funding their studies at top-ranked international partner universities,” said the Chairperson.

Prof Nizam said PHEC intended to scale up the program with GCU next year and was also planning extending it to other universities of Punjab in next phase to meet the shortage of qualified PhD faculty especially in the fields of social sciences and arts in the colleges and universities of Punjab.

GCU Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof Hassan Amir Shah said that the International Split PhD Scholarship Program would help refine the research culture at local universities. “The faculty members would get an opportunity to study at top-ranked universities and would be engaged in research activities with foreign and local experts,” said the Vice Chancellor. He said that GCU Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Tahir Kamran and PHEC DG (Quality Assurance) Muhammad Anees Sadozia are appointed as the focal persons to ensure the smooth and timely implementation of the program.