The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued comprehensive guidelines for the appointment, workload, remuneration and performance evaluation of visiting faculty members at public and private universities across the country.
The policy aims to improve academic standards, ensure transparency in hiring and address concerns over universities’ growing dependence on visiting teachers.
According to the HEC, the increased use of visiting faculty has raised concerns about inconsistent teaching quality, shortage of permanent faculty, delayed payments and non-transparent recruitment practices at some institutions.
Under the new guidelines, universities have been directed to hire visiting faculty only when there is a genuine academic need. Regular faculty appointments should remain the preferred option for permanent teaching requirements, while visiting teachers should only be engaged for specialized courses, temporary needs or limited course assignments.
The HEC has instructed universities to advertise visiting faculty positions, set clear eligibility criteria and follow competitive selection procedures. Candidates will be assessed on their academic qualifications, teaching experience, research profile and professional expertise.
The policy also discourages favoritism and conflict of interest, directing universities to make appointments in line with their approved statutes and regulations.
The commission has specified minimum qualification requirements for visiting faculty. Candidates must have relevant academic credentials and teaching experience. Industry professionals may also be hired for specialized and professional degree programs to give students practical exposure.
The guidelines set limits on teaching workload to prevent visiting faculty from being overburdened in a way that may affect teaching quality. Universities must also maintain records of lectures delivered, course outlines, attendance and academic performance.
The HEC has further directed universities to ensure timely and transparent payments to visiting teachers after complaints of delayed remuneration at several institutions. University administrations have been asked to improve financial management and release payments promptly.
The policy also introduces a formal performance evaluation mechanism based on student feedback, classroom performance, course completion and examination outcomes.
Universities may choose not to reappoint visiting faculty members with unsatisfactory performance records.
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