It has been decided by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to create a new policy for PhD scholars sent abroad.
Based on the details that surfaced on Tuesday, a proposal has been put forward. The proposal proposes to abolish penalties that are imposed on those who fail to complete PhD programmes at public expense.
The proposal also states that the scholars who are not able to finish their degrees on time will not face any harassment.
The proposal is given based on the global failure rate among PhD scholars which stands at 50 per cent. The failure rate in Pakistan is five per cent.
If the proposal is adopted new amendments will be made to the affidavit which is signed by the scholars prior to departure.
Sources suggest that no legal proceedings will follow after the return of unsuccessful scholars.
Sources also added that a review is under way regarding bond conditions and the five-year restriction placed on scholars.
However, the PhD scholars who decide to settle abroad after having unsuccessful PhDs will have penalties imposed on them.
According to the HEC recoveries worth millions remain outstanding from more than 100 absconding scholars.
The sources further add that discouraging political asylum will also form part of the new policy.
In another development to protect students from fraud by private education institutions the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has released a list of unregistered campuses, fake universities and illegal degree programs.
These lists are available on official HEC website for public access.
In Punjab according to the commission 94 institutes and university campuses are either unregistered or illegal.
35 campuses have been identified as illegal in Sindh. Four campuses in Azad Kashmir have also been flagged.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 12 institutions have been declared illegal.
Also read: HEC releases list of fake universities and programs
