INTERIM PLACEMENT OF FRESH

PHDs PHASE-II
(2025)

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION

ISLAMABAD
1. Short Title: This program will be called “Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP), Phase-II”.
2. Background: The IPFP was established in 2009, and last revised in 2019. The core objective
of the program is to assist fresh PhD graduates in acquiring the competencies and professional
characteristics required for effective teaching and research and ultimately for success in the
academic profession.
3. Objectives: The Fellowship program has four inter-related objectives:
a. Opportunity for Fresh PhDs: The primary objective is to create an opportunity for fresh PhDs
to obtain academic experience and mentorship, for one year, in public sector universities, prior
to their formal entry into the academic job market.
b. Opportunity for Universities: A related objective is to support universities in their recruitment
processes, by enabling them both to introduce their campuses to emerging scholars and reducing
their eventual search costs. Subject to availability of vacant positions at the department of
placement of the IPFP Fellow, host institutions are encouraged to advertise regular faculty
positions during the term of the Fellowship in order to provide an opportunity to the IPFP
Fellows. IPFP Fellow may apply, if eligible and compete for regular faculty positions on merit
as per the recruitment rules of the Host Institution.
c. Gap Assessment and Feedback: Third, the Fellowship is preceded by a gap assessment
exercise both to identify optimal capacity building investments, and to provide feedback to
universities on the strengths and weaknesses of their PhD programs.
d. Capacity Building: Finally, the Fellowship includes an intensive capacity building program
designed to equip the Fellows with skills required to become effective teachers, researchers, or
university administrators, and thus enhance the probability of future success in academic life.
4. Position Title: The selected candidates will carry the title of “IPFP Fellow” throughout the
period of their Fellowship i.e., NFDP and subsequent placements.
5. Experience weightage: One year’s IPFP Fellowship would be counted equivalent to
professional experience of Assistant Professor.
6. Remuneration and Benefits: In line with international practice, the remuneration of the IPFP
Fellow is fixed between the salary of regular faculty members (Assistant Professors) and the
stipend provided to graduate students.
a. Amount: For IPFP Phase-II, the revised remuneration is fixed at PKR 150,000 per month for
the duration of the placement.
b. Additional Benefits: The program will facilitate the participation of incumbents in
voluntary benefit schemes that would be transferable to regular academic positions, including
a voluntary pension scheme (VPS) and a voluntary health insurance scheme.
7. Scope of Work: Universities may assign a teaching load of up to one full course per
semester to IPFP Fellows. The remaining time will be allocated to research and professional
development.
8. Host Institutions: IPFP Fellows may be placed in the public sector HEIs and federal or
provincial government post-graduate colleges.
9. Eligibility criteria: Individuals who fulfil the following conditions may apply for selection as
IPFP Fellows:
a. Pakistani/AJK nationality.
b. Age at the time of applying should not be over 40 years.
c. Holder of a PhD degree from a HEC-recognized university (Pakistani or foreign) completed
within the two years preceding the advertisement. Scanned copies of HEC attested PhD degree,
and/or an equivalence certificate issued by the HEC Equivalence Cell must be uploaded together
with the application.

2
 d. Should have published at least two research publications in HEC-recognized or indexed
journals.
e. Individuals holding regular faculty positions are not eligible. However, those holding irregular
or contract positions (or other sub-optimal jobs) in universities or elsewhere may apply, and if
selected, will have to resign, and submit a clearance certificate from their previous employer.
Exceptions are non-gazette employees (i.e., below BPS-17), who wish to retain their lien.
10. Submission of Application: All submissions will be online on the HEC e-Portal
(http://eportal.hec.gov.pk/ipfp) and should include the following information and supporting
documents (which should also be uploaded directly to the e-portal):
I. Curriculum vitae on the standard format, including:
a) A Statement of Purpose (of no more than 150 words),
b) A list of publications (online link to the publications is mandatory), and
c) Abstract of PhD dissertation.
II. Scanned copies of the following:
a) HEC attested PhD degree or equivalence certificate (in case of foreign PhD)
b) Other degrees or certificates
c) CNIC
III. Three letters of reference, including one from the PhD supervisor. Applicants who obtained their
PhD from another country must submit at least one letter of reference from an international
referee.
IV. HEC scholars must submit an NOC from the HEC scholarship section.
V. Selection of Test Centre
11. Procedure for Selection and Placement: The following are the key steps in the process
of selection and placement of IPFP Fellows:
a. Submission of complete application on the HEC portal.
b. Preliminary scrutiny of the applications to ensure conformity with the eligibility criteria.
c. Pre-assessment test for eligible applicants.
d. Declaration of pre-assessment result on HEC website
e. Circulation of the list of successful NFDP graduates to all public sector universities and
HEIs, post-graduate colleges of federal, GB. AJK, and provincial governments.
f. Receipt of Consent Form from all public sector universities and HEI’s, post-graduate colleges
of Federal, GB, AJK and provincial governments
g. Receipt of Willingness from IPFP Fellow against the Consent Forms received from all public
sector universities and HEI’s, post-graduate colleges of Federal, GB, AJK and provincial
governments. On receipt of willingness, host institute could be changed only once subject to the
approval from competent Authority before training.
h. Training under NFDP of applicants whose consent of placement received by the universities.
i. Announcement of the list of successful graduates of the NFDP.
j. IPFP Fellows will be facilitated placement at a host institution within three (03) months on
completion of their NFDP training program / commencement of upcoming semester, after which
they will not be eligible for placement
12. Capacity Building: Only top 350 shortlisted applicants will undergo training in an integrated
capacity building program, with the following components:
a. NFDP: A mandatory training program of up to four-week period, will be given prior to the
placement.
b. Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Undertaking regular online activities
recommended by NAHE during the period of the Fellowship.
c. Mentorship: Assignment of a faculty mentor at the host university for guidance on major
career- related issues. The mentors may also assist the Fellow through network development
3
 activities, e.g., interactions throughout the year with relevant private and public sector
institutions, participating in job fairs.
d. Assistant Mentors/Junior Instructorship: Top performing IPFP Fellows from each cohort
may be trained and engaged to work as Assistant Mentors/Junior Instructors for succeeding
batches of NFDP. This will expand the pool of indigenous trained resources trained by eminent
National/International trainers. Remuneration of these fellows will be fixed to maximum of
Rs.100,000 /- per workshop up to a four-week period.
13. Placement: IPFP Fellows will be encouraged to follow up on the information circulated
by HRD and get in touch with public sector HEIs and post-graduate colleges to identify
potential host institutions.
a. Once the consent is received from a potential host institution, HRD will issue placement offers
to the IPFP Fellows subject to completion of NFDP successful training
b. Before training IPFP fellow has to submit the willingness to join that institution which cannot
be changed.
c. IPFP Fellows will join the host institution within one month failing which placement offer
will stand cancelled automatically.
d. As soon as HEC receives the joining report in original, it will process payment of monthly
remuneration.
e. IPFP Fellows may not change their host institution without prior permission from the HEC as
well as both the host institutions.
f. Validity Period for Placement at Host Institution: IPFP Fellows will be facilitated placement
at a host institution within 03 months / commencement of upcoming semester of completion
of their NFDP training program, after which they will not be eligible for placement.
14. Duration of IPFP Assignment: The duration of IPFP placement will be one year from the
date of joining. The host institution may extend the affiliation as per their recruitment rules
without any financial liability on part of HEC.
a. IPFP Fellows may avail paid leave during their placement period as per leave rules of the host
institution, with the prior approval of Host Institution under intimation to HEC. However, such
leave shall not exceed one month period in any case whatsoever.
b. In case of family leave or prolonged illness (beyond one month), the IPFP Fellow may obtain
leave without pay, upon recommendation of the faculty supervisor by the host institution under
intimation to HEC. Such leave shall not be treated as part of the regular assignment period to be
counted as placement period and the total paid period will remain the same i.e., one year.
15. Responsibilities of HEC: HEC will pay a fixed remuneration of PKR 150,000 per month for
a period of not more than 12 months from the date of joining to IPFP Fellows. The
remuneration amount will be released in two tranches in favor of the head of the host institution;
the first tranche will be paid in advance for six months. Whereas, the second tranche, covering
the remaining six months, will be released upon receipt of satisfactory performance report from
the host institution. The funds for the program will be provided from HEC's recurring budget
head, “IPFP program".
16. Responsibilities of IPFP Fellows: The responsibilities of IPFP Fellows include but are
not limited to teaching undergraduate as well as graduate courses as assigned by the concerned
academic department at the host institution. However, the teaching load should be less than that
of fulltime faculty members in order to allow them to sustain their research momentum.
Currently, the expected teaching load is one course per semester.
a. Contribution to Host Institution: More generally, IPFP Fellows are expected to contribute
actively to the academic mission of the university, in all three traditional areas, i.e., teaching,
research, and service to the institution, and make meaningful contribution to the academic life of
the host institution, including through participation in conferences, seminars, or workshops.
4
 b. Research: IPFP Fellows are expected to be active researchers and submit their work for
publication in academic journal articles or in the form of occasional papers, monographs, book
chapters, or books, at a pace consistent with future tenure requirements.
c. Research Record: IPFP Fellows are expected to maintain a research log (e.g., a laboratory
notebook and/or other comparable research records), which will remain the property of the host
institution upon the termination of the Fellowship. The records should provide evidence of
adherence to the research standards of the host institution, including, e.g., standards on research
ethics (especially with regard to research on human subjects or living entities), use of hazardous
substances (e.g., isotopes, chemicals, or infectious agents), and on use of published or
unpublished material.
d. Professional Conduct: IPFP Fellows are expected to conform to the highest standards of
academic conduct, including responsible conduct in research, teaching, and public behavior,
exhibit collegial conduct towards others, including members of their department, other faculty
members, personnel of research laboratories, students, or other members of the academic
community, and comply with all applicable university policies and applicable terms of sponsored
support agreements.
17. Responsibilities of the Host Institutions: Host institutions will accept IPFP Fellows on
merit, and provide them with adequate office space, research facilities, access to laboratories,
libraries, and other research facilities, and access to capacity enhancement programs and
learning opportunities at par with those available to other faculty members.
a. Timely Payments: Host institutions will ensure the release of remuneration on monthly basis in
a timely manner.
b. Opportunity for Regular Employment: Subject to availability of vacant positions at the
department of placement of the IPFP Fellows, host institutions are encouraged to advertise
regular faculty positions during the term of their Fellowship to provide an opportunity to the
IPFP Fellows.
c. IPFP Fellows may apply, if eligible and compete for regular faculty positions on merit as per the
recruitment rules of Host Institution.
d. Mentoring: The host institution is responsible for appointing a senior faculty member as a
mentor of each IPFP Fellow, in order to provide guidance on career related issues.
e. Maintenance and Reporting of Records: The host institution will designate a focal point
responsible for maintaining the updated records of IPFP Fellows. The focal point will be required
to submit six-monthly performance reports along with expenditure utilization statements on
IPFP Fellows to HRD.
f. In the Event of Termination: In the event of the premature termination of the contract, due to
resignation, termination, or otherwise, the payment of remuneration will be stopped forthwith by
the host institution and reported to HRD. The placement during the period of contract shall be
liable to termination on thirty days’ notice on either side or payment of basic pay in lieu thereof,
without assigning any reasons.
g. Refund of Unspent Remuneration: In case of resignation or premature termination of the
contract, due to any reason whatsoever, the IPFP Focal Point shall immediately arrange refund
of the unspent balance pending out of the released remuneration against the concerned IPFP
Fellow(s). The refund (through cross cheque in favor of D.G. Finance HEC) must be reached at
HEC within a period of 15 days following the resignation or termination of an IPFP Fellow.
18. Termination: The appointment of an IPFP Fellow may be terminated during the contract
period because of resignation, loss of funding support, or dismissal for just cause. "Just cause"
includes poor performance, work-related misconduct, violation of university policies, or other
serious reason as determined by the university. In case, an IPFP Fellow is appointed to a
faculty position or any other job during the Fellowship period, he/she would be allowed to
5
 leave the position on formal request to HEC through the concerned office of the respective
institution.
19. For HEC Scholarship holders: To facilitate HEC scholarships holders, intake should be open
throughout the year. They will be required to obtain NOC from relevant scholarship section of
HEC along with other pre-requisite documents. Their eligibility will be evaluated on the date
of submission of application. However, the HEC scholars will appear and qualify the scheduled
Aptitude Test if agreed and subsequently participate the training subject to provision of consent
from universities/HEIS. Furthermore, two years age relaxation may be granted to HEC Ph.D.
Scholarship holders (i-e 42 Years)