HEC endeavouring to control plagiarism
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Indigenous Scholarship Schemes of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) are its most distinguishing factor and epitomize the change that needs to be brought about in the higher education sector for evolving a culture of research’, said Dr. Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director Higher Education Commission.
He was addressing a meeting of focal persons appointed in various universities for the Indigenous PhD Fellowship Schemes.
He discussed with the participants, the issue of plagiarism in various universities and voiced HEC’s policy of zero tolerance towards it. He said internationally such an action was considered a major sin and when discovered meant the academic death of the person concerned. It was therefore felt that universities needed to deal with the issue very strongly. He emphasized the need for universities to take the initiative in such matters as well as purchase of equipment, books, CDs for their students for which they did not require HEC’s permission.
He pointed out the need to set up administrative units in universities dedicated entirely in dealing with the scholarship disbursement of Indigenous Scholarship Schemes and reporting of academic and financial aspects for smooth running of the programme. HEC requires bi-annual progress reports of the scholars as well as the utilization of funds. The focal persons were asked to furnish pending progress reports of their PhD scholars.
HEC is setting the criteria in a quality conscious manner he said, stressing the fact that HEC was a facilitating body, providing guidelines for the smooth running of its various projects. The last three years have seen a gradual refinement in the mechanism of implementation of the Schemes, he added.
He also outlined the procedures pertaining to Indigenous 500 PhD Fellowship Scheme for submission of funds utilization and progress reports and disbursement of funds to HEC scholars. The focal persons will meet on quarterly basis at HEC regional centres for exchange of information regarding the Schemes.
Dr. S. Mehmood Raza, Adviser (HRD) and Dr. Riaz H. Quereshi, Adviser (QA &LI) gave presentations on the progress of the Scheme and HEC Quality Criteria for MPhil and PhD Studies respectively. Mr. Mujtaba Kiyani DG Finance and Mr Abdur Rasheed, DG Audit provided technical expertise to queries regarding financial issues faced by the focal persons and their universities.
The focal persons termed the meeting useful in opening a channel of communication and providing answers to many questions which are raised in their universities.