The Department of Health, Physical Education and Sports Sciences of University of Karachi is running MPhil and PhD programs in Physical Education and Sports Sciences and Physical Therapy, which is against the norms and guidelines set by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. is
Following the complaint filed by Advocate Waqas Ahmed, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Provincial Assembly has directed the Secretary of the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) to initiate an inquiry into the matter within two weeks. Submit a report.
The Chairman of the Department, who has a PhD in Physiology, is running both programs under the Physiology Faculty. He runs the physical therapy degree program with an associate professor and an assistant professor in the physiology department, both of whom have PhDs in physiology.
The chairman runs the physical education and sports sciences degree programs with one professor who has a PhD in chemical biochemistry, one professor who has a PhD in psychology, and another professor who has a PhD in pharmaceuticals. Is a Ph.D.
According to documentary evidence available with The News, the chairman of the department also holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (BSPT) from an unrecognized institution which no longer exists.
HEC media director Tariq Iqbal said that the commission has approved KU to start MPhil and PhD programs in physical therapy and physical education and sports sciences based on the NOC dossier provided by the university. Issued Objection Certificate (NOC).
Iqbal said that for starting an MPhil program, the university needs to have at least two faculty members in the relevant discipline and three faculty members in the relevant discipline for the PhD program among other requirements. He said that KU fulfilled these requirements, hence the NOCs were issued.
He also has a PhD from KU in health and physical education, the department chairman said. He promised to share a copy of the degree but did not do so by the time this story was filed. About his BSPT degree, he said he obtained it from Greenwich University in 1999, and the program was discontinued after one batch. Then he got degree equivalency from KU. He added that all public universities can issue equivalency to other universities.
As per HEC regulations, KU is ineligible to run MPhil and PhD programs in Physiotherapy due to shortage of full-time faculty members pursuing PhD in Physiotherapy. The official HEC guidelines for issuing NOCs for MPhil programs stipulate that a university should have at least two full-time faculty members with expertise in the relevant field, and a Ph.D. programs, at least three full-time faculty members in the same discipline, all. Of which a Ph.D.
The HEC regulations also specify that each program should be headed by a Principal or Head of Department with a PhD in the relevant field to ensure the academic quality and credibility of the program.
Senior educationist Prof Yaqoob Ahmed said all three faculty members are unqualified in the field of physiotherapy, raising concerns about their ability to properly supervise and teach in these programmes.
Professor Ahmed said that physiology and physiotherapy are two separate fields, explaining that physiology is the branch of biology that focuses on understanding how the body and its parts work. He said that it studies the functions of organs, tissues, cells and molecules in the human body. He added that physiology explains the mechanisms behind various biological processes such as respiration, circulation and digestion.
On the other hand, he continued, physiotherapy is a health care profession that aims to treat and manage physical disorders, disabilities and pain through physical techniques such as exercise, manual therapy and procedures (heat, cold, ultrasound). is
He said physical therapists focus on improving mobility, strength and function to help patients recover from injuries, surgeries or chronic conditions. In short, he added, physiology is about the science of body functions, while physiotherapy is the treatment method for physical health and recovery.
He concluded that physical education and sports sciences play a role in the development and maintenance of the body, providing training in hygiene, performance and management of gymnastics and athletic games.
Karachi University spokesperson Zeeshan Azmat while talking to The News said that both the MPhil and PhD programs are being run as per the law and HEC regulations. The academic council of the university approved the programs after ratification of all relevant laws, he said, adding that the HEC issued NOCs to KU for both the programs after scrutiny. In response to a question, Ahmed said that according to the law, any public sector university can issue an equivalent certificate to another university.
University of Karachi Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, Registrar Prof. Dr. Abdul Waheed and Controller of Examinations Dr. Syed Zafar Hussain remained unavailable for comment despite contacting their official and mobile numbers. They were sent detailed messages on their WhatsApp numbers as well as a detailed questionnaire by courier, but they did not respond till the filing of this story.