HEC plans to collaborate with EU in higher education field

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) plans to collaborate with the European Union in the field of higher education. Both sides will identify specific areas of mutual interest for increasing interaction among academia and researchers.
This was discussed in a meeting between HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, and a European Union delegation led by Development Adviser, EU Delegation to Pakistan, Luigi Brogi on Monday.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed shared HEC’s significant investments towards developing institutional facilities, introduction of new disciplines in market based technologies, development of human resource including faculty, improvement in research facilities, enhancement of technological infrastructure, Pakistan Education and Research Network, Digital Library, and linkages different foreign universities.
He also shed light on provision of facilities for students through Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Programme which is providing free education for less developed areas, provision of laptops to university students as well as plans to make universities Wi-Fi enabled, by introducing the concept of smart universities.
The chairman also dwelt on HEC’s activities for capacity building of researchers and support to universities in promotion of research as well as commercialization of university research. He emphasised that Pakistan would be interested in academic linkages in different areas of socio-economic importance.
Besides that, he shared HEC’s initiative to encourage higher education institutions’ effective engagement with the society. Through HEC’s handholding project, comparatively better universities are being encouraged to share their experiences and expertise with schools, colleges, and even small universities within their areas.
The EU delegates expressed their appreciation of HEC’s role in developing human resource of the country and promoting research culture through various R&D initiatives.