LAHORE – Risking the future of the students, the Lahore Garrison University (LGU) is operating various MPhil programmes without having being chartered by either Punjab or federal government, The Nation has learnt.
Sources reveal that LGU had affiliations only for its masters programmes from Punjab University and Government College University, Faisalabad but the university was offering MPhil programmes in English, Statistics and Mathematics. They further said that according to the HEC criteria, at least one PhD and three M. Phil permanent faculty members were required to run any M. Phil programme while the university does not fulfil the criteria.
A student of M. Phil programme requesting anonymity said that the university had received heavy sum of fee from the students. “After getting enrolled, we came to know that LGU does not have its own charter. The administration has been assuring us since our enrolment that it will get its charter soon. Ironically, the administration has been ranting on and off.”, said the student.
A senior professor of Punjab University in this regard said that any degree awarding institution must have its own board of studies and academic council. He said that earlier the Garrison colleges were affiliated with Punjab University and LGU was running its programmes with the same affiliation. He questioned that how an institution could run a M. Phil programme while it was not even awarding degrees at masters level.
Interestingly, the university’s official website displays “The English Literature programme at Garrison is strictly in accordance with the outline provided by the Punjab University.” The statement depicts that university does not have its own academic council and has affiliation with Punjab University for its MA English programme.
It is to be mentioned here that the university was running a number of programmes including English, Urdu, Applied Psychology, Economics, Home Economics, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Mass Communication, Botany, Computer Studies, Commerce, Geography etc.
However, an official of Punjab Higher Education Department told that the charter of LGU was on cards and it was waiting for Punjab Assembly’s nod.
When contacted, HEC media coordinator Murtaza Noor confirmed that the university was not recognised with the commission. Despite repeated attempts, LGU Vice Chancellor Dr Jamil Anwar could not be reached to comment.