A study to investigate the requirements of a continuing professional development programme for higher education academic staff in Punjab, Pakistan

• Main Author: Zia, R.
• Published: Swansea University 1994
• Subjects: 378
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.636735

This study traces the trends in higher education in Pakistan in the light of the country's educational policies and plans from 1971 to date. The implications contained therein for the continuing professional development of the higher education academic staff are highlighted. The existing facilities available, specifically, for the continuing professional development of the academic staff of degree colleges of Punjab are also identified. A postal questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from all the degree colleges of Punjab to identify the prevailing state of continuing professional development of the academic staff in these colleges. Out of the replies to the postal enquiry, two institutions with highly dissimilar responses were selected as miniature case studies, basically to verify and enhance the data obtained through the questionnaire. Further, interviews were conducted with a sample of principals of degree colleges of Punjab, the persons in-charge of providing in-service education to the lecturers of these degree colleges of Punjab, the education officials as executive agents of the government's educational plans and the education ministers as policy-makers and the data were collected and collated to identify the requirements for a continuing professional development programme for the academic staff of the degree colleges of Punjab within the unique contextual factors of the country. The study indicates diversity in structure and provision of professional development activities for the academic staff of the degree colleges of Punjab. The study concludes that there is considerable need and scope for the initiation of a continuing professional development programme at the level of the degree colleges in Punjab.