Punjab University to cancel ICS MPhil admissions

The Punjab University (PU) administration is likely to cancel the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) MPhil admissions as the admissions committee concerned was formed against the Doctorate Programme Coordination Committee (DPCC)’s rules, Pakistan Today learned on Sunday.
The PU sources said the ICS administration set up a three-member committee to interview MPhil Professional and MPhil Research track candidates last week. Among the committee members, only Dr Bushra Hamoodur Rahman was a DPCC member. Other two namely Muddasir Shah and Abida Ejaz did not belong to the DPCC. Also, Abida did not hold a Phd and Shah was a contractual employee.
According to DPCC rules, they were not eligible to be the members of the admissions committee and conduct interviews as only DPCC members were allowed to administer examinations and admissions of MPhil and Phd programmes at varsities. According to sources, the ICS administration did not consider renowned educationist, senior professor and DPCC member Dr Affira Hamid for the admissions committee because of a tussle between ICS Director Ahsan Akhtar Naz and Affira.
Ahsan claimed that Affira held a Phd in Urdu subjects and was not eligible to be a member of the MPhil admissions committee. Affira said despite being a member of the DPCC, the ICS administration never considered her name for appointment to the admissions committee. A senior PU official, who asked not to be identified by name, said the committee had been formed with approval from the dean.
A PU senior official said: “The blunder of including non-DPCC members into the admissions committee will likely cause cancellation of the ICS MPhil admissions.” He said the committee was also involved in irregularities such as failing students who topped the entry test. He alleged that the ICS administration committed a serious crime by appointing incompetent members to the admissions committee and requested the Higher Education Commission, chief minister (CM), governor and PU vice chancellor (VC) to take appropriate action against the ICS administration.
Last month, in the same department, a senior teacher allegedly leaked the entry test question paper, upon which the Punjab CM ordered action against him. Some close friends of the PU VC however tried to bury the issue and still no action has been taken against the perpetrator. Similarly in 2009, a historic corruption in the MPhil admissions was done at the ICS. An enquiry was also started but again no action was taken by PU VC against the teachers involved.
As a result of this incident, no MPhil admissions were done in 2010 and this year again the department is facing a new scandal. A PU senior administrative official said: “We are trying to find a permanent solution to corruption at the ICS. After Eid holidays, we will take action against the corrupt teachers.” He said the PU administration needed help from the Punjab government and the VC to implement merit and transparency at the ICS.
MPhil admissions candidates also condemned the ICS administration and demanded action against those responsible for depriving students of their right to admissions for the last three years.