Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) is one of the most renowned institutes of University of the Punjab and is playing an incredible role for strengthening the fourth pillar of the state (ie, media). It is ranked among the best in the entire South Asia with regards to media and journalism studies.
Few months back the university administration advertised for one vacant post for a permanent lecturer at the ICS. The selection board conducted tests/interviews of the candidates who had applied for the post. The applicants included four seasoned teachers of the institute itself who were working on contractual basis for the past for few years and had tirelessly served the institute. These included; Mr Ahmed Mujtaba (who is also devotedly performing his duties as the Media Advisor of the ICS), Mr Khalid Rashid (who worked on contractual basis for four years), Ms Maliha Hassan Leghari and Ms Shafia Bhatti.
Instead of the deserving teachers, three other female lecturers have been appointed by the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran for a single post. Even if new vacancies had to be created it is binding upon the university administration to advertise them after the consent of the director of the related institute (this was never done in this case).
Moreover, the selection board didn’t include the Director of the ICS whereas his presence is mandatory during the selection process as defined by the rules of Higher Education Commission. The three teachers selected by the VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran have no experience of teaching and they haven’t graduated from the same institute. The present faculty is by all means much better than the fresh recruitments whether it be qualification, performance or experience.
The worst affectees would be the students if teachers would be recruited through nepotism and by violating the rules. Teachers are an asset for the students and mass communication being a relatively new field of study in Pakistan requires dedicated and ambitious teachers.
I implore the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Governor Punjab to take notice of these unfair recruitments and save the future of thousands of students who aspire to become future journalists, media professionals and opinion leaders. In addition to this, while approving a candidate for the slot of VC, consider this corrupt decision enforced by the sitting VC.
A STUDENT