Decisions made to improve higher education

LAHORE:The 38th Commission meeting of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) was held on Tuesday in which several key decisions were taken to improve the standards of higher education in the province.

The meeting was presided over by Dr Farrukh Naveed, Chairperson PHEC/ Secretary, the Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab and attended by the members. During the session, the Commission unanimously adopted the HEC Transnational Education (TNE) Policy 2024 for implementation across Punjab. The policy sets the foundation for global academic partnerships and includes provisions for continuous dialogue with HEC Islamabad to address evolving challenges.

An action plan stemming from the Vice Chancellors Conference held on February 17, 2025, was also approved. The plan emphasizes strategic, thematic recommendations to drive systemic improvement across higher education institutions. In a move to enhance accountability and performance, newly developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Vice Chancellors of public universities were sanctioned. Another key development was the launch of the Honhaar Scholarship Program, backed by Rs 4.19 billion allocation for the fiscal year 2024–25. The initiative aims to support academically talented yet financially disadvantaged students, with institution-wise fund distribution ensuring equity in access.

Varsity students visit Organised Crime Unit

Students from various Lahore universities visited the Organised Crime Unit Headquarters in Township as part of a study tour. SP Admin Imran Karamat Bukhari and other officers briefed the students on police operations, the chain of command, and administrative divisions. The students also toured different departments within the unit.

Scottish team visits PU

A three-member delegation from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Scotland led by Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Lynn Kilbride, visited Punjab University (PU) here Tuesday and met

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali.

According to details, the delegation included Dean of Grays School of Art and Acting Dean of Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment Dr Dan Allen, Dean of School of Computing and Engineering Technology Dr John Isaacs and Country Representative for Robert Gordon University Hassan Khan. During the meeting, both sides discussed potential collaborations in student and faculty exchange programmes and explored collaborative research opportunities. Prof Dr Muhammad Ali expressed his enthusiasm for strengthening the partnership with Robert Gordon University and highlighted the significance of internationalisation in higher education. He emphasised the need for greater mobility of students and faculty to broaden horizons and promote innovation. The delegates expressed their keen interest in expanding cooperation with PU and assured their support towards achieving the shared goals in future.