Reforms! What Reforms?
Pervez Hoodbhoy July 8, 2005
#46 Posted by Charlie on July 12, 2005 8:14:52 am
TITLE: Higher Education and the HEC: A response to Professor Hoodbhoy
Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission
Corruption. Dishonesty. Incompetence. Cronyism. These are only a few of the very serious charges laid by Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy at the door of the Higher Education Commission. One would expect such charges to be fully substantiated, especially when made by a distinguished academic.
Administrative competence
Let us start with the announcement that HEC’s projects are riddled with “gross administrative incompetence.” As proof, Dr. Hoodbhoy refers to the “Best University Teacher” program. Please note that there is no objection to the project itself, merely to the manner in which it is being implemented. But what is this highly objectionable course adopted by the HEC?
The HEC selects the “best” university teachers on the basis of nominations received from university administrations. But those administrators are not supposed to make nominations based upon their personal whims. Instead, those nominations are required to be made on the basis of numerous factors, including student evaluations, a point which has been completely ignored. There are more than 250,000 university students in Pakistan. The HEC cannot interview those students itself. So, once the hype is stripped away, what we are left with is a program which Dr. Hoodbhoy admits is innovative and desirable, which the HEC is trying to implement in a self-evidently reasonable manner, and yet the program, according to Dr. Hoodbhoy, is conclusive proof of gross incompetence.
The real problem here is that Dr. Hoodbhoy sees the rest of Pakistan as a problem, not as an opportunity. The HEC, however, does not have the luxury of living in an ideal world. Instead, it has to make do with the human resources which exist today in Pakistan. Dr. Hoodbhoy is right when he says that the HEC sees existing faculty members as “part of the solution.” The HEC feels no reason to be ashamed of that vision.
We come then to Dr. Hoodbhoy’s other example of “gross incompetence “– the Master Trainers in Physics program being run by Quaid e Azam University. Once again, we can safely assume that Dr. Hoodbhoy has no objection to the concept of the program itself since two years ago, when the project was first proposed, he demanded that he be placed in charge of it. Once again, his only objection to the program is the manner in which the project is being implemented. But, the HEC is not in charge of the implementation of that project. That responsibility belongs entirely to the Physics department of Quaid e Azam University, of which Dr. Hoodbhoy is a very senior member. Contrary to what Dr. Hoodbhoy says, HEC has not selected (let alone “hand-picked”) a single “master trainer.”
Research funding
We come then to Dr. Hoodbhoy’s allegation that HEC is throwing “enormous sums . . . at half-baked proposals.” The first exhibit in this regard is the grant sanctioned by the HEC for the purchase of a Van de Graaf accelerator. Obviously, a Van de Graaf accelerator’s use for “cutting-edge” research is limited, but that was never its purpose. Instead, it was always intended to be used for teaching and general research, for which purpose it was, and remains, a very useful machine since cutting-edge particle accelerators cost billions of dollars. Similarly, Dr. Hoodbhoy pours much scorn on the grant to Dr. Saadia Chishti. But, Dr. Chishti holds a PhD in education from Cornell and has been a senior research fellow at both Oxford and the Divinity School at Harvard. Her project, like any other research grant proposal funded by HEC, was not examined by HEC itself. Instead, as per standard procedures, the proposal was sent to be examined by the focal person in that subject (normally, the single most eminent and recognised scholar in that area in Pakistan) who then referred it to other competent scholars, who examined and reviewed the proposal. That internationally recognised method remains the standard method by which HEC reviews all grant proposals. Dr. Hoodbhoy asks “how true is this?” The question which Dr. Hoodbhoy needs to be asked is, “where is your proof that this method is not being followed?
While discussing the Allama Iqbal Open University Chemistry project, Dr. Hoodbhoy’s notes that according to the project summary, “this work aims to correct the mistakes made in this area by a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry” and that “such grand notions of challenging Nobel Prize winners are highly suspect.” What the abstract of the proposal clearly states is that the initial work was done in 1972 by Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, that the resultant research did in fact show the work of the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry to have been incorrect, and that the current work is only an extension of that research. In fact, the 1972 article by Dr. Atta ur Rehman was one of the works specifically cited by the United Nations when it awarded him the UNESCO Science Prize.
PhD Factories
Dr. Hoodbhoy specifically alleges that in the Biology Department at QAU, there are as many as 40 students with one supervisor. The Quaid-e-Azam University has confirmed that these allegations are incorrect. It should first be noted that as per HEC rules, the maximum number of PhD fellowship holders allowed to be registered with any one supervisor is eight. Furthermore, so far as the Biology department at QAU is concerned, HEC has not approved even a total of 40 PhD fellowships, let alone 40 for one supervisor. Instead, HEC has only approved a total of 20 PhD fellowships at the QAU biology department, which are being supervised by 10 HEC approved supervisors.
The Quality Control System introduced by the HEC has stipulated that HEC will not recognise any local PhD unless the thesis has been approved by at least two eminent academics from industrially advanced countries, and the work has been published in an international journal. In addition the international subject GRE before a student is allowed to be enrolled into the Ph.D. program and extensive course work both at M.Phil. and PhD levels has been introduced. Dr. Hoodbhoy is well aware of these steps but has ignored these, and many other measures, taken by the HEC to raise the quality of higher education in Pakistan.
What is most unfortunate is that Prof. Hoodbhoy has ignored the largest programs of the Commission. These include programs relating to sending students on scholarships to foreign universities, post-doctoral training programs, and the foreign faculty hiring program under which hundreds of eminent expatriate and foreign scientists have joined Pakistani universities. These are the programs that have begun to change the landscape of our universities, uplifting them from their current mediocre status. Professor Hoodbhoy claims that the GRE-type administered by HEC is worthless. But if that is the case, why are professors from Austria, Germany, France and other countries clamouring for these students? Last week alone, 92 students left for France to do post-graduate studies. To date, foreign supervisors have expressed complete satisfaction with the quality of the students sent to them.
The Higher Education Commission is aiming to be one of the first public sector institutions to implement a fully computerized financial management system in accordance with the New Accounting Model (NAM) adopted by Project for Improvement of Financial Reporting and Auditing (PIFRA). For the record, HEC would welcome any financial or performance audit by any agency. We have nothing to hide.
It must also be realized that the entire amount of Government funds available to nearly sixty public sector universities in Pakistan do not match the funds available to a single reasonable size university in Malaysia. Advanced countries spend an average of about Rs. 6 million per student per year while Pakistan only spends Rs. 35,000 per student per year. Today, out of an eligible pool of more than 20 million people in Pakistan between the ages of 18 – 23, only about 250,000 students are physically studying at universities and degree granting institutions. This is one of the lowest percentages in the world. Is it not time that Pakistan improved this percentage?
Today, as a consequence of the HEC’s efforts and the enhanced funds provided by the government, every public sector university in Pakistan has computers, an internal computer network, high speed connectivity to the Internet, access to more than 15,000 journals and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation. Enrolment in our universities is rising at an excellent rate, four-year undergraduate programs are being introduced from Malakand to Khairpur, faculty members are writing research proposals, collaborating with leading foreign universities, going on sabbaticals and post-doctoral fellowships, and presenting their research work to the world. For the first time, Pakistan is making its presence felt in the international academic world. Over the last two years, there has been a 44% increase in the number of papers by Pakistani academics appearing in internationally reputed scientific journals. Is this not progress? Only a continued emphasis on higher education, science and technology will ensure that Pakistan prospers, becomes self reliant, and utilizes its greatest asset - its people.
Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission
Corruption. Dishonesty. Incompetence. Cronyism. These are only a few of the very serious charges laid by Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy at the door of the Higher Education Commission. One would expect such charges to be fully substantiated, especially when made by a distinguished academic.
Administrative competence
Let us start with the announcement that HEC’s projects are riddled with “gross administrative incompetence.” As proof, Dr. Hoodbhoy refers to the “Best University Teacher” program. Please note that there is no objection to the project itself, merely to the manner in which it is being implemented. But what is this highly objectionable course adopted by the HEC?
The HEC selects the “best” university teachers on the basis of nominations received from university administrations. But those administrators are not supposed to make nominations based upon their personal whims. Instead, those nominations are required to be made on the basis of numerous factors, including student evaluations, a point which has been completely ignored. There are more than 250,000 university students in Pakistan. The HEC cannot interview those students itself. So, once the hype is stripped away, what we are left with is a program which Dr. Hoodbhoy admits is innovative and desirable, which the HEC is trying to implement in a self-evidently reasonable manner, and yet the program, according to Dr. Hoodbhoy, is conclusive proof of gross incompetence.
The real problem here is that Dr. Hoodbhoy sees the rest of Pakistan as a problem, not as an opportunity. The HEC, however, does not have the luxury of living in an ideal world. Instead, it has to make do with the human resources which exist today in Pakistan. Dr. Hoodbhoy is right when he says that the HEC sees existing faculty members as “part of the solution.” The HEC feels no reason to be ashamed of that vision.
We come then to Dr. Hoodbhoy’s other example of “gross incompetence “– the Master Trainers in Physics program being run by Quaid e Azam University. Once again, we can safely assume that Dr. Hoodbhoy has no objection to the concept of the program itself since two years ago, when the project was first proposed, he demanded that he be placed in charge of it. Once again, his only objection to the program is the manner in which the project is being implemented. But, the HEC is not in charge of the implementation of that project. That responsibility belongs entirely to the Physics department of Quaid e Azam University, of which Dr. Hoodbhoy is a very senior member. Contrary to what Dr. Hoodbhoy says, HEC has not selected (let alone “hand-picked”) a single “master trainer.”
Research funding
We come then to Dr. Hoodbhoy’s allegation that HEC is throwing “enormous sums . . . at half-baked proposals.” The first exhibit in this regard is the grant sanctioned by the HEC for the purchase of a Van de Graaf accelerator. Obviously, a Van de Graaf accelerator’s use for “cutting-edge” research is limited, but that was never its purpose. Instead, it was always intended to be used for teaching and general research, for which purpose it was, and remains, a very useful machine since cutting-edge particle accelerators cost billions of dollars. Similarly, Dr. Hoodbhoy pours much scorn on the grant to Dr. Saadia Chishti. But, Dr. Chishti holds a PhD in education from Cornell and has been a senior research fellow at both Oxford and the Divinity School at Harvard. Her project, like any other research grant proposal funded by HEC, was not examined by HEC itself. Instead, as per standard procedures, the proposal was sent to be examined by the focal person in that subject (normally, the single most eminent and recognised scholar in that area in Pakistan) who then referred it to other competent scholars, who examined and reviewed the proposal. That internationally recognised method remains the standard method by which HEC reviews all grant proposals. Dr. Hoodbhoy asks “how true is this?” The question which Dr. Hoodbhoy needs to be asked is, “where is your proof that this method is not being followed?
While discussing the Allama Iqbal Open University Chemistry project, Dr. Hoodbhoy’s notes that according to the project summary, “this work aims to correct the mistakes made in this area by a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry” and that “such grand notions of challenging Nobel Prize winners are highly suspect.” What the abstract of the proposal clearly states is that the initial work was done in 1972 by Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, that the resultant research did in fact show the work of the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry to have been incorrect, and that the current work is only an extension of that research. In fact, the 1972 article by Dr. Atta ur Rehman was one of the works specifically cited by the United Nations when it awarded him the UNESCO Science Prize.
PhD Factories
Dr. Hoodbhoy specifically alleges that in the Biology Department at QAU, there are as many as 40 students with one supervisor. The Quaid-e-Azam University has confirmed that these allegations are incorrect. It should first be noted that as per HEC rules, the maximum number of PhD fellowship holders allowed to be registered with any one supervisor is eight. Furthermore, so far as the Biology department at QAU is concerned, HEC has not approved even a total of 40 PhD fellowships, let alone 40 for one supervisor. Instead, HEC has only approved a total of 20 PhD fellowships at the QAU biology department, which are being supervised by 10 HEC approved supervisors.
The Quality Control System introduced by the HEC has stipulated that HEC will not recognise any local PhD unless the thesis has been approved by at least two eminent academics from industrially advanced countries, and the work has been published in an international journal. In addition the international subject GRE before a student is allowed to be enrolled into the Ph.D. program and extensive course work both at M.Phil. and PhD levels has been introduced. Dr. Hoodbhoy is well aware of these steps but has ignored these, and many other measures, taken by the HEC to raise the quality of higher education in Pakistan.
What is most unfortunate is that Prof. Hoodbhoy has ignored the largest programs of the Commission. These include programs relating to sending students on scholarships to foreign universities, post-doctoral training programs, and the foreign faculty hiring program under which hundreds of eminent expatriate and foreign scientists have joined Pakistani universities. These are the programs that have begun to change the landscape of our universities, uplifting them from their current mediocre status. Professor Hoodbhoy claims that the GRE-type administered by HEC is worthless. But if that is the case, why are professors from Austria, Germany, France and other countries clamouring for these students? Last week alone, 92 students left for France to do post-graduate studies. To date, foreign supervisors have expressed complete satisfaction with the quality of the students sent to them.
The Higher Education Commission is aiming to be one of the first public sector institutions to implement a fully computerized financial management system in accordance with the New Accounting Model (NAM) adopted by Project for Improvement of Financial Reporting and Auditing (PIFRA). For the record, HEC would welcome any financial or performance audit by any agency. We have nothing to hide.
It must also be realized that the entire amount of Government funds available to nearly sixty public sector universities in Pakistan do not match the funds available to a single reasonable size university in Malaysia. Advanced countries spend an average of about Rs. 6 million per student per year while Pakistan only spends Rs. 35,000 per student per year. Today, out of an eligible pool of more than 20 million people in Pakistan between the ages of 18 – 23, only about 250,000 students are physically studying at universities and degree granting institutions. This is one of the lowest percentages in the world. Is it not time that Pakistan improved this percentage?
Today, as a consequence of the HEC’s efforts and the enhanced funds provided by the government, every public sector university in Pakistan has computers, an internal computer network, high speed connectivity to the Internet, access to more than 15,000 journals and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation. Enrolment in our universities is rising at an excellent rate, four-year undergraduate programs are being introduced from Malakand to Khairpur, faculty members are writing research proposals, collaborating with leading foreign universities, going on sabbaticals and post-doctoral fellowships, and presenting their research work to the world. For the first time, Pakistan is making its presence felt in the international academic world. Over the last two years, there has been a 44% increase in the number of papers by Pakistani academics appearing in internationally reputed scientific journals. Is this not progress? Only a continued emphasis on higher education, science and technology will ensure that Pakistan prospers, becomes self reliant, and utilizes its greatest asset - its people.
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#45 Posted by contemplative on July 12, 2005 7:29:36 am
One respects Dr. Hoodhboy`s candor and courage -- a shortened version of his article was published in the Dawn as well and Dr. Ata ur Rehman hopefully read it. But, I have three points to make:
1) Dr. Ata is probably one of the most brilliant men around -- keeping his world class concurrent contributions in HEJ, Chemistry Journal editing, COMSTECH, Ministry of S & T and HEC. Perhaps he is overstretched -- nevertheless he is highly dedicated and he is probably a genius. It is disingenous to blame the 12 day Internet failure on Ata -- he had legislated 50% satellite backup which fell to 2% in his aftermath. The growth of the Internet in his tenure, the greater respect to higher eduction which will probably take half a generation to take root, the importation of Pak Expats as faculty, the dissemination of knowledge through digital libararies -- these are all fundamental building blocks for change. You cannot on the one hand condemn the lack of intellectualism and knowledge in Pakistan and in the same breath blame the poverty of research proposals on Ata. One has to make a start before one goes to improve quality.
2) Zia Chisty, by the way, is a brilliant man who won over Mushy and Ata with a combination of brains and PR. They do not favor him because he bribed them or is related to them, they favour him because they think he is good for the country. In the real world, anywhere in the world, many projects germinate based on relatinships. If Zia`s mom got funding, it is wrong to imply that it is only due to sifarish and she could have gotten funding for any quality of project. I feel it is this kind of sceptic pessimism which hurts positive change.
3) If you undertake a lot of projects some are bound to fail. That is the law of the VC and that is the law elsewhere. Dealing with Government apathy, changing mindsets and a society are probably the hardest undertakings. It takes a different type of intelligence, but it is probably much harder than doing original work in Theoretical Physics. Yes its apples and oranges but leading change in society demands many more dimensions of intelligence. It so easy to be an arm chair critic and so hard to deliver. Life away from Ivory Towers is a different cup of tea -- particularly when one has to inspire people to change rather than heaping condescension and criticism on them. And by people one doesn`t mean impressionable students -- one means battle heardened, apathetic, often corrupt, cynical veterans.
1) Dr. Ata is probably one of the most brilliant men around -- keeping his world class concurrent contributions in HEJ, Chemistry Journal editing, COMSTECH, Ministry of S & T and HEC. Perhaps he is overstretched -- nevertheless he is highly dedicated and he is probably a genius. It is disingenous to blame the 12 day Internet failure on Ata -- he had legislated 50% satellite backup which fell to 2% in his aftermath. The growth of the Internet in his tenure, the greater respect to higher eduction which will probably take half a generation to take root, the importation of Pak Expats as faculty, the dissemination of knowledge through digital libararies -- these are all fundamental building blocks for change. You cannot on the one hand condemn the lack of intellectualism and knowledge in Pakistan and in the same breath blame the poverty of research proposals on Ata. One has to make a start before one goes to improve quality.
2) Zia Chisty, by the way, is a brilliant man who won over Mushy and Ata with a combination of brains and PR. They do not favor him because he bribed them or is related to them, they favour him because they think he is good for the country. In the real world, anywhere in the world, many projects germinate based on relatinships. If Zia`s mom got funding, it is wrong to imply that it is only due to sifarish and she could have gotten funding for any quality of project. I feel it is this kind of sceptic pessimism which hurts positive change.
3) If you undertake a lot of projects some are bound to fail. That is the law of the VC and that is the law elsewhere. Dealing with Government apathy, changing mindsets and a society are probably the hardest undertakings. It takes a different type of intelligence, but it is probably much harder than doing original work in Theoretical Physics. Yes its apples and oranges but leading change in society demands many more dimensions of intelligence. It so easy to be an arm chair critic and so hard to deliver. Life away from Ivory Towers is a different cup of tea -- particularly when one has to inspire people to change rather than heaping condescension and criticism on them. And by people one doesn`t mean impressionable students -- one means battle heardened, apathetic, often corrupt, cynical veterans.
#44 Posted by sadeez on July 12, 2005 5:49:26 am
DEAR SIR...
a very good article and a true picture of what is going on around..
being a student i feel that we r not actually having research environment to work in any science or other field... Money is not the only thing that is needed ...iff not at PhD level , even at masters level if some one is willing to go for research work, supervisors are not easily available ...atleast thats what i found....
definately agree that HEC is only pouring money into projects ... universities prepairing PC1s and such docs all the time to grab good chunks of it.. but are these facilities actually being used as they should be?? unfortunately NO.... HEC just give out fundind... is that funding actuallly being utilized for the purpose for which it is beings assigned ???
....
thanks Sir for an informative insight....
Prayers n regards
a very good article and a true picture of what is going on around..
being a student i feel that we r not actually having research environment to work in any science or other field... Money is not the only thing that is needed ...iff not at PhD level , even at masters level if some one is willing to go for research work, supervisors are not easily available ...atleast thats what i found....
definately agree that HEC is only pouring money into projects ... universities prepairing PC1s and such docs all the time to grab good chunks of it.. but are these facilities actually being used as they should be?? unfortunately NO.... HEC just give out fundind... is that funding actuallly being utilized for the purpose for which it is beings assigned ???
....
thanks Sir for an informative insight....
Prayers n regards
#43 Posted by Rambler on July 12, 2005 2:37:46 am
Dear Dr. Hoodbhai,
Thank you for such a true article.
I still remember my days in the University of Peshawar where the teacher of Development Economics used to dictate us the notes that he took from his teacher in 70`s. I actually wanted to read Development Economics but had to leave it for that very reason.
The standard of other departments in the University was even verse.
Rambler
Thank you for such a true article.
I still remember my days in the University of Peshawar where the teacher of Development Economics used to dictate us the notes that he took from his teacher in 70`s. I actually wanted to read Development Economics but had to leave it for that very reason.
The standard of other departments in the University was even verse.
Rambler
#42 Posted by hasseeb on July 12, 2005 2:32:34 am
Perhaps this thing has been discussed either in Interacts or somewhere else, so sorry if its a repitition. or perhaps its a deviant from the topic, but still i have these comments to make on Dr. Ata`s Philosophy and new Reforms.
I am totally against the idea of funding PhD Students. What Pakistan needs is good Researchers. And by giving PhD Stipends and Funding PhDs will yes of course produce a huge number of PhDs but it will not produce Good Researchers. PhD is not for everyone, not everyone has an aptitute for Research. So my personnel opinion is to Fund Masters Students and after that if someone is fanatic about research he will find funding himself. PhD is funded in every University, its just that you have to show your Research Potential and Interest.
One can get into PhD in nearly every University if one is ready to Fund his PhD himself.
Current Reforms will populate the Universities with PhDs but most of them will be the kind who did their PhD because they got PhD Scholorship not because they were interested.
But perhaps at the initial step we need just teaching Faculty and then we can move to next Research Phase.
I am totally against the idea of funding PhD Students. What Pakistan needs is good Researchers. And by giving PhD Stipends and Funding PhDs will yes of course produce a huge number of PhDs but it will not produce Good Researchers. PhD is not for everyone, not everyone has an aptitute for Research. So my personnel opinion is to Fund Masters Students and after that if someone is fanatic about research he will find funding himself. PhD is funded in every University, its just that you have to show your Research Potential and Interest.
One can get into PhD in nearly every University if one is ready to Fund his PhD himself.
Current Reforms will populate the Universities with PhDs but most of them will be the kind who did their PhD because they got PhD Scholorship not because they were interested.
But perhaps at the initial step we need just teaching Faculty and then we can move to next Research Phase.
#41 Posted by rumpus on July 12, 2005 12:27:20 am
re:36
charlie, i take it you`re a pretty well educated guy. you`ve just prattled off dr. ata`s ``cv``. how is it humanly possible to concurrently be the chaiman of the HEC and churn out the research papers he does, and run the family business (with government funds ofcourse)? According to the ``record`` Dr. Ata not only publishes the highest number of research papers but also supervises PHD students. WOW.
let`s look at the facts. everything dr. ata has done in the past 5 years has been half baked. his stint as the minister for science and technology came first. as a result of his half assed work pakistan faced the most embarrassing and costly internet ``breakdown`` for 12 days costing businesses millions of dollars. according to dr. ata even villages have the internet today but have you ever tried to use the internet in sahiwal? or bahawalpur? hmmm. thought not.
giving out press releases and interviews is the easy part my friend but actually delivering on what you`re claiming is another. i have no doubt that dr. ata is a bright man but he`s fallen short on all counts. he can talk the talk, but as we`ve seen he cant walk the walk.
charlie, i take it you`re a pretty well educated guy. you`ve just prattled off dr. ata`s ``cv``. how is it humanly possible to concurrently be the chaiman of the HEC and churn out the research papers he does, and run the family business (with government funds ofcourse)? According to the ``record`` Dr. Ata not only publishes the highest number of research papers but also supervises PHD students. WOW.
let`s look at the facts. everything dr. ata has done in the past 5 years has been half baked. his stint as the minister for science and technology came first. as a result of his half assed work pakistan faced the most embarrassing and costly internet ``breakdown`` for 12 days costing businesses millions of dollars. according to dr. ata even villages have the internet today but have you ever tried to use the internet in sahiwal? or bahawalpur? hmmm. thought not.
giving out press releases and interviews is the easy part my friend but actually delivering on what you`re claiming is another. i have no doubt that dr. ata is a bright man but he`s fallen short on all counts. he can talk the talk, but as we`ve seen he cant walk the walk.
#40 Posted by Romair on July 11, 2005 9:44:02 pm
Interesting rebuttal from the executive director of HEC. Complete article at(www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html)
``- Regarding the Master Trainers in Physics programme being run by Quaid-e-Azam University, it should be noted that Dr Hoodbhoy asked to be placed in charge of the programme when it was first proposed. Presently, his only objections to the programme pertain to the manner in which it is being implemented. However, the responsibility of implementing that project belongs entirely to the physics department of Quaid-e-Azam University (of which Dr Hoodbhoy is a very senior member); the HEC has not selected (let alone ``hand-picked``) a single ``master trainer.``
- While discussing the Allama Iqbal Open University`s Chemistry Project, the article notes that according to the project summary, ``this work aims to correct the mistakes made in this area by a Nobel Prize-winner in chemistry`` and that ``such grand notions of challenging Nobel Prize-winners are highly suspect.`` The abstract of the proposal clearly states that Dr Atta-ur-Rehman did the initial work in 1972, and that the resultant research did, in fact, show the work of the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry to have been incorrect. The current work is only an extension of that research. In fact, the 1972 article by Dr Atta-ur-Rehman was one of the works specifically cited by the United Nations when it awarded him the UNESCO Science Prize.
- There is criticism of the Biology Department at QAU for having as many as 40 students with one supervisor - an incorrect allegation. As per HEC rules, the maximum number of PhD fellowship holders allowed to be registered with any one supervisor is eight. The HEC has only approved a total of 20 PhD fellowships at the QAU biology department, which are being supervised by 10 HEC-approved supervisors.
- Furthermore, the HEC`s quality control system introduced stipulates that the HEC will not recognise any local PhD unless the thesis has been approved by at least two eminent academics from industrially advanced countries, and the work has been published in an international journal. In addition, the international subject GRE, is required before a student is allowed to enrol into the PhD programme and conduct extensive course work both at M.Phil. and PhD levels.``
I think Hoodhboy has the habit of streching the truth, quite a bit. I am always a bit concerned when academicians try to become high-profile social activists also. To be a popular and well-known social activist one has to, by definition, create publicity and controversy, e.g. tying yourself to a tree, lying down on roads, etc. Sometimes Hoodhboy lets that get the better of him......
It would be interesting to see a rebuttal to the rebuttal, from him......
``- Regarding the Master Trainers in Physics programme being run by Quaid-e-Azam University, it should be noted that Dr Hoodbhoy asked to be placed in charge of the programme when it was first proposed. Presently, his only objections to the programme pertain to the manner in which it is being implemented. However, the responsibility of implementing that project belongs entirely to the physics department of Quaid-e-Azam University (of which Dr Hoodbhoy is a very senior member); the HEC has not selected (let alone ``hand-picked``) a single ``master trainer.``
- While discussing the Allama Iqbal Open University`s Chemistry Project, the article notes that according to the project summary, ``this work aims to correct the mistakes made in this area by a Nobel Prize-winner in chemistry`` and that ``such grand notions of challenging Nobel Prize-winners are highly suspect.`` The abstract of the proposal clearly states that Dr Atta-ur-Rehman did the initial work in 1972, and that the resultant research did, in fact, show the work of the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry to have been incorrect. The current work is only an extension of that research. In fact, the 1972 article by Dr Atta-ur-Rehman was one of the works specifically cited by the United Nations when it awarded him the UNESCO Science Prize.
- There is criticism of the Biology Department at QAU for having as many as 40 students with one supervisor - an incorrect allegation. As per HEC rules, the maximum number of PhD fellowship holders allowed to be registered with any one supervisor is eight. The HEC has only approved a total of 20 PhD fellowships at the QAU biology department, which are being supervised by 10 HEC-approved supervisors.
- Furthermore, the HEC`s quality control system introduced stipulates that the HEC will not recognise any local PhD unless the thesis has been approved by at least two eminent academics from industrially advanced countries, and the work has been published in an international journal. In addition, the international subject GRE, is required before a student is allowed to enrol into the PhD programme and conduct extensive course work both at M.Phil. and PhD levels.``
I think Hoodhboy has the habit of streching the truth, quite a bit. I am always a bit concerned when academicians try to become high-profile social activists also. To be a popular and well-known social activist one has to, by definition, create publicity and controversy, e.g. tying yourself to a tree, lying down on roads, etc. Sometimes Hoodhboy lets that get the better of him......
It would be interesting to see a rebuttal to the rebuttal, from him......
#39 Posted by StaleMate on July 11, 2005 8:46:18 pm
Dr. Saadia, granted 5 Million+ ... Her actual address is Bhalla House, Multan Road, Lahore.
Dr. Saadia Khawar Khan Christo w/o Dr. Atta Ullah Chishti R/o Bhalla House
http://contracts.onecle.com/align-tech/bhallah.lease.2000.09.01.shtml
(Thank you Google)
She is the mother of Zia Chishti (Align Technology/TRG), who. in turn, is really chummy with Dr. Atta (the Paki IT evangelist) ever since TRG was established, Mushi (the enlightened moderate muslim), and the rest of Pakistan`s capable rulers.
She would have gotten the grant even if she were studying the effect of Van de Graaf machines on human teeth, :-S Nothing surprising!
Now, are there any volunteers to go and ask her exactly what is she doing with the money?
On a different note, I still remember those first chapters in the local school science books that listed down contributions of muslim scientists... wonder whatever happened to that?
Dr. Saadia Khawar Khan Christo w/o Dr. Atta Ullah Chishti R/o Bhalla House
http://contracts.onecle.com/align-tech/bhallah.lease.2000.09.01.shtml
(Thank you Google)
She is the mother of Zia Chishti (Align Technology/TRG), who. in turn, is really chummy with Dr. Atta (the Paki IT evangelist) ever since TRG was established, Mushi (the enlightened moderate muslim), and the rest of Pakistan`s capable rulers.
She would have gotten the grant even if she were studying the effect of Van de Graaf machines on human teeth, :-S Nothing surprising!
Now, are there any volunteers to go and ask her exactly what is she doing with the money?
On a different note, I still remember those first chapters in the local school science books that listed down contributions of muslim scientists... wonder whatever happened to that?
#38 Posted by jang on July 11, 2005 1:37:28 pm
#37 are you kidding? did you not see the following...reads like a joke.
``He is the Fellow of all three major international science Academies (Third World Academy of Sciences, Islamic Academy of Sciences and Pakistan Academy of Sciences). ``
``He is the Fellow of all three major international science Academies (Third World Academy of Sciences, Islamic Academy of Sciences and Pakistan Academy of Sciences). ``
#37 Posted by shobig_sifar on July 11, 2005 5:26:22 am
Re: # 34 Well, no one should be doubting Dr. Atta ur Rehman`s credibility as a Scientist here, he is certainly an eminant one, and holds a good place among the leading Chemists internationally.
#36 Posted by Charlie on July 11, 2005 4:48:39 am
Re: # 34
OK! Let`s see at Atta`s career...
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman is internationally renowned in the field of natural product chemistry. He has written or edited 63 books the majority of which have been published in Europe, USA and Japan. He has also published 479 research papers in leading international scientific journals. 56 students have completed Ph.D. degrees under his exceptional / outstanding supervision. The Government of Pakistan has conferred four civil awards on him, including Nishan-i-Imtiaz (2002), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1998), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1991), and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (1983), in recognition of his eminent contributions in the field of Organic Chemistry.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has also won several national and international prizes. He is the first scientist from the Islamic World to have received the prestigious UNESCO Science Prize (1999) in the 30 year old history of the award. He has secured numerous other national and international prizes and awards including the ECO Prize (2000), ISESCO Prize (2001) to have been awarded the degree of Doctorate of Science (Sc.D) by University of Cambridge. The FPCCI Prize for Technological Innovation (1985), the “Best Scientist of the Year” Award of the Government of Pakistan (1986), the Islamic Organization Prize by Government of Kuwait (1988), the First Prize at the 6th Khwrazmi Festival by the President of Iran (1993), the Prime Minister’s Gold Medal and Pakistan Academy of Sciences-INFAQ Foundation Prize in Science (1995) and the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies Award (Hiroshima, Japan, 1997)
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has also been awarded the prestigious degree of Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) by the University of Cambridge in 1987. He is the Fellow of all three major international science Academies (Third World Academy of Sciences, Islamic Academy of Sciences and Pakistan Academy of Sciences).
Presently, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman is the Editor-in-Chief / Executive Editor of six international journals: Natural Product Letters (Switzerland), Current Medicinal Chemistry (U.S.A), Current Pharmaceutical Design (U.S.A.), Current Organic Chemistry (U.S.A.), Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening (U.S.A.) and Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry (Netherlands). He is also the Editor of an encyclopedic series of books on natural product chemistry, “Studies in Natural Product Chemistry”, 27 volumes of which have been published under his Editorship during the last 12 years. He is the Director of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi. Due to the efforts of Professor Atta-ur-Rahman, the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi has been selected as the Third World Centre for Science & Technology in Chemical Sciences after international competition and the Institute has won international projects worth over 40 million U.S. dollars from Germany, Japan, U.K., U.S.A. and France for its various developmental activities. The Institute has, thus, been transformed into one of the most powerful centers in the world in the field of natural products chemistry. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has also been appointed by the President of Pakistan as the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, an OIC Ministerial Committee comprising the 57 Ministers of Science & Technology from 57 OIC member countries. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman was the Federal Minister for Science and Technology (14th March, 2000- 20 November 2002). Presently he is the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission with the status of a Federal Minister
OK! Let`s see at Atta`s career...
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman is internationally renowned in the field of natural product chemistry. He has written or edited 63 books the majority of which have been published in Europe, USA and Japan. He has also published 479 research papers in leading international scientific journals. 56 students have completed Ph.D. degrees under his exceptional / outstanding supervision. The Government of Pakistan has conferred four civil awards on him, including Nishan-i-Imtiaz (2002), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1998), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1991), and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (1983), in recognition of his eminent contributions in the field of Organic Chemistry.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has also won several national and international prizes. He is the first scientist from the Islamic World to have received the prestigious UNESCO Science Prize (1999) in the 30 year old history of the award. He has secured numerous other national and international prizes and awards including the ECO Prize (2000), ISESCO Prize (2001) to have been awarded the degree of Doctorate of Science (Sc.D) by University of Cambridge. The FPCCI Prize for Technological Innovation (1985), the “Best Scientist of the Year” Award of the Government of Pakistan (1986), the Islamic Organization Prize by Government of Kuwait (1988), the First Prize at the 6th Khwrazmi Festival by the President of Iran (1993), the Prime Minister’s Gold Medal and Pakistan Academy of Sciences-INFAQ Foundation Prize in Science (1995) and the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies Award (Hiroshima, Japan, 1997)
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has also been awarded the prestigious degree of Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) by the University of Cambridge in 1987. He is the Fellow of all three major international science Academies (Third World Academy of Sciences, Islamic Academy of Sciences and Pakistan Academy of Sciences).
Presently, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman is the Editor-in-Chief / Executive Editor of six international journals: Natural Product Letters (Switzerland), Current Medicinal Chemistry (U.S.A), Current Pharmaceutical Design (U.S.A.), Current Organic Chemistry (U.S.A.), Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening (U.S.A.) and Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry (Netherlands). He is also the Editor of an encyclopedic series of books on natural product chemistry, “Studies in Natural Product Chemistry”, 27 volumes of which have been published under his Editorship during the last 12 years. He is the Director of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi. Due to the efforts of Professor Atta-ur-Rahman, the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi has been selected as the Third World Centre for Science & Technology in Chemical Sciences after international competition and the Institute has won international projects worth over 40 million U.S. dollars from Germany, Japan, U.K., U.S.A. and France for its various developmental activities. The Institute has, thus, been transformed into one of the most powerful centers in the world in the field of natural products chemistry. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman has also been appointed by the President of Pakistan as the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, an OIC Ministerial Committee comprising the 57 Ministers of Science & Technology from 57 OIC member countries. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman was the Federal Minister for Science and Technology (14th March, 2000- 20 November 2002). Presently he is the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission with the status of a Federal Minister
#35 Posted by shobig_sifar on July 11, 2005 4:43:22 am
Re: # 24 Well, about HEJ, I quoted more or less, the words of a person who has recently arrived at the same university as I am, on an HEC scholarship, from HEJ! No one, but him, can know better what goes on undercover. According to him HEJ is, `officially` a preferable institute for scholarships, because every student enrolled there has to take up a subjective GRE test(local). Now is this fair by any means, that a local course, and Dr Hoodbhoy`s has unvieled well the `authenticity` of this local GRE well here, be only commenced at one institute...isn`t it akin to deliberately giving the students of that very institute an upper hand over the others? That is the reason that more more Chemistry students have made it to the UK universites this year than all the other desciplines combined! Is it really that difficulat for Dr Atta to introduce such a program at other research institutes also?
Also, as for as the personal accomplishments of Dr Atta are concerned, no doubt both him and Dr hoodbhoy stand out among the top scientists in south Asia, but that does not mean he is a good policy-maker too...and his personas is free of all sorts of corruption? After all he`s been brought up in the same system, and is bound to keep up with it.
lastly for now....we need to be idealists to get out of this quagmire of incompetence and discredit.
more later...
best
Also, as for as the personal accomplishments of Dr Atta are concerned, no doubt both him and Dr hoodbhoy stand out among the top scientists in south Asia, but that does not mean he is a good policy-maker too...and his personas is free of all sorts of corruption? After all he`s been brought up in the same system, and is bound to keep up with it.
lastly for now....we need to be idealists to get out of this quagmire of incompetence and discredit.
more later...
best
#34 Posted by rumpus on July 11, 2005 4:38:12 am
charlie,
buddy. how about you tell us what ata has done and we can talk on this! dr. hoodbhoy for one has done a hell of a lot more than ata. ata has profited nicely from his stint as he`s funneled away HR and equipment from the HEC to his own business. scratch the surface and you`ll find the scam....
buddy. how about you tell us what ata has done and we can talk on this! dr. hoodbhoy for one has done a hell of a lot more than ata. ata has profited nicely from his stint as he`s funneled away HR and equipment from the HEC to his own business. scratch the surface and you`ll find the scam....
#33 Posted by Charlie on July 11, 2005 2:41:10 am
Re: # 32 I`d like to add my two cents. ata is nothing but a dr. strangelove type who loves publicity and has done nothing tangible which is sad since he is a smart man. ata doesnt have an ounce of intellectual honesty or integrity otherwise he would have resigned years ago.
Huh! Who else than Dr Atta has done more than him for promoting research and higher education in current scenario ? Give me the name of a single Pakistani with his services to the country and then we will debate who is more suitable. There is no use of making sweeping statements.
Huh! Who else than Dr Atta has done more than him for promoting research and higher education in current scenario ? Give me the name of a single Pakistani with his services to the country and then we will debate who is more suitable. There is no use of making sweeping statements.
#32 Posted by rumpus on July 11, 2005 12:21:56 am
hoodbhoy is on the money yet again but is anyone in the government reading is the question? while dr. hoodbhoy is too polite to say this, i`d like to add my two cents. ata is nothing but a dr. strangelove type who loves publicity and has done nothing tangible which is sad since he is a smart man. ata doesnt have an ounce of intellectual honesty or integrity otherwise he would have resigned years ago. from missing centrifuges to misappropriating government funds to his own business ata has done it all. it could be a classic case for NAB but then who`s interested. after Dr. H`s article hit the press the links to the more banal research being funded were removed from the HEC site but can be found via google!
#31 Posted by antihypochrist on July 10, 2005 9:52:29 pm
NHK #29,
Dr. Hoodbhoy is not an idealist. He is just being truthful. You will no doubt agree with me on the widely prevalent ``chalta hai`` attitude, in every effort that begins with a big-bang and ends in a whimper. People do not set high expectations, do not dare question the quality of a product, be it of the education being served, or of the student.
Dr. Hoodbhoy is not an idealist. He is just being truthful. You will no doubt agree with me on the widely prevalent ``chalta hai`` attitude, in every effort that begins with a big-bang and ends in a whimper. People do not set high expectations, do not dare question the quality of a product, be it of the education being served, or of the student.
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