Till 1998, professors sent abroad for PhD every year were
Till 1998, professors sent abroad for PhD every year were
(a) 65
(b) 60
(c) 55
(d) 50
✅ Correct Option: (a) 65
Explanation (200+ words)
Till 1998, approximately 65 professors were sent abroad each year for PhD scholarships, funded through government and international collaboration programs. This initiative was crucial for strengthening higher education in Pakistan, which at that time faced shortages of highly qualified faculty in universities and postgraduate colleges.
The purpose of sending faculty abroad was to expose them to global research standards, advanced laboratories, and international academic environments. Most scholars went to the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, and Canada. These foreign-trained PhDs later contributed significantly to improving teaching quality, research output, curriculum updates, and departmental development in Pakistani universities.
This yearly figure (65) is often quoted in education statistics before the formation of HEC (Higher Education Commission) in 2002, which later increased the number of foreign PhD scholarships dramatically. In the 1990s, scholarship programs were limited but highly competitive, ensuring that only the most capable teachers were selected.
10 PPSC-Relevant Facts
- Annual number till 1998: 65 professors.
- Purpose: research quality improvement.
- Sponsored by government & international donors.
- Mostly in science, technology & engineering fields.
- Helped establish postgraduate programs in Pakistan.
- Strengthened research culture in universities.
- Many scholars joined public universities on return.
- Pre-HEC era had low PhD production.
- Contributed to policy reforms in higher education.
- Formed the base for later HEC scholarship expansion.