SUTA CoD 2013-14: INSTITUTIONAL IMPROVEMENT 1. Provision of 25% of the funds of evening program for improvement of research/teaching facilities in departments/ institutions. Currently University is offering evening programs in five out of seven faculties, large number of students are enrolled in these programs. This increased number of students must be contributing well to financial resources. The purpose of evening programs is to raise funds locally to improve the overall infrastructure and other facilities. Everywhere around the world a portion of it is utilized for the improvement/development of intuitions, which are major source of generating funds. However, in Sindh University all amount is channelized to other heads and the Departments/Institutes are prevented to get the due benefits/fruits of their earning. SUTA believes that in order to improve learning/teaching/ and research facilities, 25% of evening program’s earning be spent on respective Institute/Department (this is already approved by Syndicate and only needs to be implemented in letter and spirit). SUTA demands that University should announce the financial break-up of the amount/earning being generated by each Department/Institute and accordingly provide 25% of amount/earning be directed to relevant Department/Institute for improvement of its infrastructure and other facilities. 2. Decentralization of Research Funds and Allocation of 5% of Annual Budget for Research The yearly budget of Sindh University indicates that few millions have been allocated for research projects, but if we look closely at details, mostly funds lapsed due to non-utilization. Major cause of this non-utility of funds is that no any clear mechanism has been devised to distribute research funds and Advisor Planning & Development Office has no expertise to assist in such matters. As research is entirely an academic matter and all academic matters are being handled by the Dean of each Faculty, moreover Deans are mostly professors with vast research experience and exposure in their field. Therefore research grants may be distributed through Deans’ offices, where a committee may be constituted to evaluate research projects of faculty on merit basis and to approve grants for projects annually. It is also proposed that a Research Coordinator and Industry Liaison Officer be appointed at each faculty to assist the Dean in carrying out research and liaison activities. Furthermore, job responsibilities for HoDs and Deans should also be specified. SUTA Also demands that as per minimum requirements of HEC the University should allocate at least 5% of its annual budget for research and ensure its proper utilization. 3. Establishment of postgraduate Research Centers at Faculty level. Higher education institutions play a key role in identifying and resolving the various problems faced by society. It can be accomplished by providing opportunity to scholars to carry out research on every aspect of society. Since its inception HEC focused on establishment of Centers for science and technology, whereas Social Science, Arts, Humanities and other Sciences were neglected. However, in the wake of complex social issues being faced by society, HEC has shifted its focus now days toward Social Science, Literature, Arts and Humanities and has started investing funds in these fields. It is therefore very essential for University to make generous use of this opportunity and with liaison of HEC propose the establishment of such Research Centers. Meanwhile University of Sindh on its own at least may establish fully equipped postgraduate Research Center in each Faculty on priority basis, where all researchers may be able to carry out their research smoothly and student be facilitated with chance to work according there to convenience according to 24/7 days of the week policy. 4. Restructuring of all Faculties Currently university of Sindh houses eight faculties, where some faculties consist of only 2 departments with not more than 8 faculty members in total, while others have as many as 27 institute/departments with more than 250 faculty members. Administratively it is difficult to manage such huge faculty and the diversity of subjects also make it hard to address all problem faced by such faculty. In this regards many faculty members suggested SUTA to coin the idea of restructuring of all faculties and especially faculty of natural science needs particular attention. SUTA believe in the rationality of this proposal and demands that one point agenda meeting of academic council should be summoned to discuss the merit of this proposal and accord approval accordingly. . 5. Renovation and extension of Working Women’s Hostel and Teachers’ Club Working Women’s Hostel since the days of its construction has not been renovated. Currently TV, Refrigerator, drawing room and kitchen are in dismal conditions. Male teacher’s hostel was furnished last year and standby generator was installed, but working women hostel was neglected. It has caused a sense of discrimination among female faculty members. Therefore SUTA demands to provide same facilities to working women’s hostel and especially during the times of prolong load shedding, generator or UPS may be installed on urgent grounds. It is also known fact that the appointments of female faculty members are increasing each year in University of Sindh but the accommodation facility is not available to many due to shortage of rooms in working women’s hostel as it is consisting of only seven rooms. It is difficult for young female teachers to live alone in city without family, hence they are facing countless hardships regarding accommodation. SUTA demands that the accommodation problems of female faculty members may be addressed with seriousness and the new wing consisting of 20 rooms minimum may be constructed immediately. Meanwhile at least 10 rooms may be reserved for female faculty in PG hostel to facilitate those teachers who are facing the accommodation problem. SUTA also demands for renovation of the Teachers’ Club and installation of modern games and entertainment facilities. 6. Establishment of Day care Service Center at main Campus It is good sign for the University of Sindh that every year the number of young female faculty members is increasing, however it is very sad and disappointing that there is no any provision of day care facility during working hours by University for faculty members who happen to be parents. We all are aware that research is also compulsory practice along with teaching and both require time and concentration. However it is very difficult for working parents to carry on research and teaching and parental duties simultaneously. It is therefore need of time to encourage the culture of research in working mothers in University of Sindh by facilitating them with day care service. Day care center may be established in main campus following the pattern at Punjab and Karachi University. SUTA will fully cooperate with University authorities to materialize this demand. 7. Provision of internet facility to faculty of Pharmacy Faculty of Pharmacy’s internet tower is dysfunctional since many years due to certain reason and faculty and students are deprived of net facility in this age information technology. Dean faculty of Pharmacy and along with signature of all faculty members many times approached to concerned authorities but it has not been redressed yet. SUTA demands that concern authorities should strictly be directed to resolve this issue on priority basis. 8. Improved security infrastructure: i. Implementation of the security response service (SRS) for immediate protection of faculty members, staff and students from violent incidents. ii. Preparation of well defined discipline policy describing the types of offenses and their prescribed penalty/punishment and dissemination of this information among all stake holders. iii. Arrangement of training/workshops for faculty and staff for dealing with incidents of violence and breach of discipline. iv. Installation of modern CCTVs and other monitoring appliances for better monitoring and control in the Campus. 9. Public access to information: In order to promote public disclosure and transparency environment at the University of Sindh, SUTA demands that copy of the University Act, statutes, resolutions, rules and regulations and academic and financial decisions by the University including minutes of Senate, Syndicate, Academic Council, Planning & Finance Committee, Higher Training Scholarship Committee, and Board of Advance Studies and Research be made available on the University website. 10. Implementation of ISO system for quality assurance: ISO certification requires strict compliance with the Acts, Statues, Rules and Regulations and hence enables the business of the Organization to run smoothly with utmost transparency and efficiency. Mehran University and other Universities who have implemented ISO quality assurance are performing better academically as well administratively. It is therefore, SUTA demands immediate implementation of ISO quality assurance in Sind University. 11. Renovation, beatification and standardization of canteens, roads, buildings: As per budget allocations the major portion of the annual budget is spent on repair and maintenance. However, the ground reality could easily be known by looking at the worst condition of all roads and buildings in the Campus. SUTA demands immediate reshaping of all the Canteen Services around the Campus, ensuring of quality of hygienic eatables and elimination of child labor. SUTA also demands for expediting the work for construction of central canteen for teachers which has been approved last year. 12. Revision of admission policy, examination system, curriculum and teaching/research methods/infrastructure and facilities: We understand that the root cause of the decline of academic standards at SU is due to unfair admission policy coupled with faulty examination system and outdated curriculum and teaching and research methods. SU requires fresh proposals through Academic Council to reshape these components to make the system work better and deliver the quality education.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 06:09:57 +0000
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