Maryam directs upgrade of three varsities as model institutions

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that improving the quality of education and strengthening the institutional framework of universities in Punjab are among her top priorities.

“Upgrade GC University, Lahore College for Women University, and University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, as model educational institutions,” the chief minister directed while chairing a special meeting of the Higher Education Department.

She reviewed proposals regarding governance reforms and institutional autonomy in public sector universities. She stated that many foreign universities, including those from the UK, Korea and Kazakhstan, have expressed interest in setting up campuses in Punjab. “The University of London, Brunel University, the University of Gloucestershire, the University of Leicester and others have offered to establish campuses in the province,” she added.

The chief minister instructed the relevant authorities to focus on improving teaching standards, encouraging innovative research, and promoting creative knowledge in universities across Punjab. She also emphasized the importance of human resource development. “Digital transformation and global connectivity in universities are also among our priorities,” she said. She directed that a higher education conference be held in Punjab for the first time and sought a detailed report on inactive commerce colleges in the province.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also approved the establishment of college management councils for government colleges and instructed the implementation of a key performance indicator system to raise academic standards. “The performance of a vice-chancellor will be evaluated based on defined KPI criteria,” she said.