ISLAMABAD, July 30: Heavy Industries Taxila Education City (HITEC) University shelved programmes of Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) due to which not only the students who had applied for admissions were left in the lurch but future of over 15 faculty members also hung in balance.

Moreover, around 100 students who had been studying in different semesters of business administration courses were in a state of shock because they felt uncertain about whether the management would complete their courses or instruct them too to go to some other educational institutions, Dawn has learnt.

According to sources, admission test for BBA and MBA programmes was scheduled to be held on July 28 but a day before the management of the university informed all aspiring candidates that they should change their disciplines because it had decided to shelve both the programmes.

Fahim Hussain, a student of MBA while talking to Dawn said that 41 students had applied seeking admission in the courses but still the university management thought the programmes were not economically viable.

“We had a meeting with the vice chancellor (VC) and controller examination also but they refused to continue the courses.

“As a matter of fact, the management had failed to attract students seeking admission for the courses and had hired visiting professors instead of regular faculty members to teach the courses which kept students at bay and they did not show any interest in getting admission here,” he explained.

Another Student of MBA, Joel Gulzar said: “We have concerns regarding the value of our degree because at the time of appointment, employers will surely question why the university shelved the programmes.”

A student of the university requesting not to be named said that they had been paying Rs45, 000 for each semester of MBA and there were seven semesters due to which they would be spending over Rs350, 000 before getting an MBA degree.

Saqlain Raza, a student of BBA said: “Management can also take a decision to shelve the ongoing programmes of BBA and MBA. In that case we may be instructed to leave the university or alternatively the management may make a deal with some other university to adjust its students.”

Faculty members who had been teaching the students of business administration courses for quite some time were also worried about their future, a student said.

“There are three PhDs – Dr Ijaz, Dr Taqaddus and Dr Anjum – along with other lecturers who have been teaching the management classes for years and they may also be fired. HEC should discourage giving charter to such universities because in the end, students have to suffer.” he added.

“The Head of Management Sciences Department Dr Anjum Manarvi is from engineering side and has no background of running management department and same is the case with vice chancellor who is also just an engineering graduate and not a PhD which is the prerequisite qualification for the VC. They are spoiling the careers of students,” he further alleged.

On the other hand, the candidates aspiring to get admission in the courses including Zaira, Sadia, Haris and Adnan said that they were disappointed over the decision because they wanted to pursue their studies but the university did not allow them, for reasons best known to them.

Dr Anjum Manarvi while talking to Dawn said that he was well qualified and had got a certificate in management sciences from Howard University.

“Our university’s location was such that students having good marks do not come here due to which we have decided to shelve the courses,” he clarified.The Vice Chancellor HITEC University, Brig (retired) Qamar Zaman said that there was less intake in BBA and MBA courses due to which decision to shelve the courses was taken. “However, those students who have been doing BBA and MBA can complete their courses,” he assured.

“Concern of students that their degrees will hold no value is not correct because the university will keep running department of management sciences.

“We have a reputation of being an engineering university, so students do not prefer to get admission in management courses here. We have planned that there should be an intake of 100 students every year but we only have around 100 students in all semesters of BBA and MBA, collectively and this made us change our mind,” he explained.