Agreement to enhance the quality of Veterinary Medical Education in Pakistan News / Information Releases from other Sources Posted by JimEdwards on May 13, 2008 - 05:35 PM Source:Dr Khalid Mahmood Shouq (D.V.M)UAF, Editor in Chief, The Veterinary News & Views A formal agreement has been signed by the Higher Education Commission with the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council to collaborate with each other in enhancing the quality of Veterinary Medical Education. Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, former caretaker Minister of Education and member of the Commission presided over the signing in ceremony. He appreciated the collaborative steps being taken to improve the standards of education and expressed the hope that livestock and animal husbandry sector would in future become the major player in the national economy. President of the Council Dr. Muhammad Arshad described the present status of Veterinary education and expressed the hope that through collaborative efforts, much needed improvement would be brought about. Other speakers including Dr. M.S.Jaffery, the first President of the Council; Prof. Dr. Manzur Ahmad Ex-Vice Chancellor of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Dr. Riaz Qureshi, Advisor Quality Assurance & Learning Innovation HEC and Dr. Azam Ali Khwaja,Managing Director of Quality Assurance Agency HEC also shared their views. All agreed that joint cooperation would lead to the improvement of quality in veterinary medical education and would help in achieving uniformity of standards that would also be internationally compatible. As a result of this newly established coordination, both the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) will jointly develop and furnish policyguidelines to revamp and strengthen the process of accreditation of programmes in VeterinaryMedical/Animal Husbandry conducted in all Institutions of Higher Education in Pakistan. Otheraspects like development of Criteria for recognition of programmes, Curricula and capacity building of institutions will also be undertaken. In addition, a Veterinary Medical Education Accreditation Board/Committee (VEAC) consisting of representatives of the Council, a representative of Higher Education Commission and eminent Veterinary/Animal Sciences Educationists is to be establishedto execute the policies and criteria. They will also publish a list of accredited institutionsoffering programmes in Veterinary Medical/Animal Husbandry that satisfy the accreditation criteria jointly approved by the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and Higher Education Commission. The Higher Education Commission shall only recognize the programmes accredited by the Veterinary Medical Accreditation Board / Committee. Furthermore, the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and HEC agree to abide by “Good Practices for Quality Assurance” defined by HEC keepingin view the international practices. This agreement will be valid initially for the period for three years which can be extendedautomatically by mutual consent of both parties. ================== AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION AND THE PAKISTAN VETERINARY MEDICAL COUNCIL As an expression of the formalization of the respective roles of the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) and Higher Education Commission for the accreditation of the veterinary medical education, an agreement is to be signed by both of the parties, with following terms: II. Terms of the Agreement: The terms of the agreement for both of the parties are stated here as Articles given below: ARTICLE ONE The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) agreed to jointly develop and furnish policy guidelines to revamp and strengthen the process of accreditation of programmes in Veterinary Medical/Animal Husbandry conducted in all Institutions of Higher Education in Pakistan and to develop Criteria for recognition of programmes in Veterinary Medical/Animal Husbandry at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, Curriculum of programmes and Criteria for appointment of faculty. These Policies and Criteria will be developed by the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) in effective consultation with Higher Education Commission (HEC). ARTICLE TWO The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council will establish a Veterinary Medical Education Accreditation Board/Committee (VEAC) consisting of representatives of the Council, a representative of Higher Education Commission and eminent Veterinary/Animal Sciences Educationists. The Higher Education Commission will recognize the status of the Veterinary Education Accreditation board/Committee as the accreditation body for Undergraduate, Postgraduate Programmes within the frame work for minimum criteria for M.Phil/Ph.D notified by the HEC in the Veterinary Medical/Animal Husbandry. ARTICLE THREE The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) agrees that the Veterinary Medical Education Accreditation Board/Committee will be responsible for execution of the policies and criteria referred to Article Two of the agreement. However, the process of execution will be facilitated by the Higher Education Commission with the objective of strengthening the functioning of the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council. ARTICLE FOUR Veterinary Medical Education Accreditation Board/Committee (VEAC) will publish a list of accredited institutions offering programmes in Veterinary Medical/Animal Husbandry that satisfy the accreditation criteria jointly approved by the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and Higher Education Commission. ARTICLE FIVE The Higher Education Commission shall only recognize the programmes accredited by the Veterinary Medical Accreditation Board / Committee. ARTICLE SIX The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and HEC agree to abide by “Good Practices for Quality Assurance.” ARTICLE SEVEN This agreement will be valid initially for the period for three years which can be extended automatically by mutual consent of both parties. Either party may terminate this agreement by giving three month advance notice. ARTICLE EIGHT In case of any conflict with the interpretation of matters pertaining to the accreditation of Veterinary Medical Education Programmes, the issue will referred to a five member Committee headed by Chairman Higher Education Commission and consisting of two nominees of the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and Commission of HEC. On behalf of On behalf of DR MUAMMAD ARSHAD PRESIDENT (Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council) PROF DR RAIZ HUASSIAN QURESH (Higher Education Commission) This article is from World Veterinary Association   http://worldvet.org/ The URL for this story is:   http://worldvet.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=4249