Tenure track system in higher education institutions of Pakistan: Prospects and challenges

Abstract

Tenure track system (TTS) was introduced in higher education institutions of Pakistan in 2002 as part of administrative reforms. The main objectives of the reform were to improve performance of higher education in the country through attracting qualified people and improving performance of academic faculty of higher education institutions particularly the public sector universities of Pakistan. The paper discusses implementation of TTS to find factors that facilitate or impede its implementation in higher education institutions of Pakistan. Triggered by a report entitled, ‘higher education in developing countries – peril and promise’ published by the World Bank and UNESCO in 2000, the government of Pakistan initiated a process of reform in the higher education sector. The report developed as part of the process recommended for making certain revisions in the higher education including the recruitment and selection, compensation and performance management systems in order to make them more efficient and better performance oriented. TTS introduced by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) in the following years draws heavily from the findings of the report. Based on the findings of an empirical study conducted on the subject the paper assesses TTSas an administrative reform and identifies its prospects and challenges to the higher education institutions in Pakistan. Using the Government College University (GCU) as a case in point the paper provides useful suggestions towards smooth implementation of TTS in view of improving performance of higher education and the institutions/universities involved. It also discusses policy implications and offers guidelines towards strengthening the system by removing the weaknesses at an early stage of implementation. Key words: Higher Education Reforms, Tenure Track System, Implementation Assessment, Change Management.