GCU looking for a new leader

Dr Khaleequr Rehman, Dr Tahir Kamran, Dr Farhan Ebadat Yar Khan and Dr Hassan Amir Shah in the run for GCU VC slot

The office of Government College University, Lahore (GCUL) Vice Chancellor (VC) will be vacant soon as the tenure of its incumbent VC is going to expire on July 25 this year. Some bigwigs are in the race for the slot as the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has issued a notification, seeking applications from interested candidates, Pakistan Today has learnt.

According to the notification, the applicants must have a PhD degree from a reputed university with at least 15 research publications in Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognised research journals. Furthermore, every contender should have a vast experience of administration and financial management in any “well-organised institution” as demanded by the Punjab HED.

The rules set by HED state that the VC’s tenure will be of four years. Some big names from outside and inside the varsity are eyeing the coveted post. To name a few, current vice chancellor Dr Khaleequr Rehman, Dr Tahir Kamran, Dr Farhan Ebadat Yar Khan and Dr Hassan Amir Shah are among the contenders, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Dr Rehman, who is credited to have started the construction work of GCU Kala Shah Kaku campus, invoked the criticism of several current and old Ravians by making rapid infrastructural changes in the varsity during his tenure. However, he is considered to be a strong candidate in the run, seeking extension.

Dr Tahir Kamran has also applied for the post and is considered a hot candidate, officials in the institution said. Dr Kamran is a well-known Pakistani historian and is currently the Iqbal Fellow at the University of Cambridge as professor in the Centre of South Asian Studies. He has also served as head of the Department of History at GCUL.

Another contender for the post is Dr Hassan Amir Shah who has served as the head of the Department of Physics at GCUL for six years. He was elected as president of professors union at GCUL and is recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Dr Shah is currently a professor of physics at Forman Christen College, Lahore.

Moreover, former principal of Government MAO College Lahore Dr Farhan Ebadat Yar Khan, who is currently affiliated with the education wing of Pakistan Railways, is another runner in the race. Dr Khan is an English literature professor and has taught drama and American literature at various colleges in Punjab. He has also served as the chairman of Gujranwala education board.

Government College, established in 1864, got the status of university in 2002 and Dr Khalid Aftab was its first VC, appointed in 2003. He held the office of vice chancellor for eight years.

A senior faculty member at GCU told Pakistan Today that the authorities have decided to appoint the new VC in time in lieu of several developments projects being in the pipeline. Last date for applications expired on April 28, 2015.