Punjab HEC to set up training academy for universities, colleges in Rawalpindi

Islamabad
The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) plans to establish third training academy for northern Punjab universities and colleges in Rawalpindi.
This information was shared by Punjab Minister for School and Higher Education and Youth Affairs Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan while interacting with the faculty members of Balochistan universities during Professional Development Workshop.
The Punjab HEC has already established two training academies in Lahore and Multan.
The workshop was organised by the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS) in support with National Testing Service (NTS) Pakistan and Government of Balochistan at the Faculty Development Academy of Comsats Institute of Information Technology (CIIT). The workshop has been exclusively designed for 22 faculty members from higher education institutions of Balochistan.
The minister encouraged the youth of Balochistan to get higher education from leading universities of Punjab. He stressed on the need for promotion of harmony in society through higher education.
“The youth of Balochistan are very talented, focused and patriot. It is our collective responsibility to undertake collective efforts to equip them with modern knowledge and techniques,” he said.
Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin, Rector CIIT (Islamabad) Dr. S M Junaid Zaidi, Chief Executive Officer NTS Pakistan Dr. Haroon Rashid and Director Faculty Development Academy S M Junaid were present on the occasion.
Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan appreciated the Inter-University Consortium, CIIT, Government of Balochistan and especially NTS for introducing effective and credible testing and assessment system and supporting useful initiatives aiming at professional development of university faculty from far-flung areas of the country.
While appreciating the contribution CIIT, he stated that the institute has undertaken a number of useful initiatives for internalisation of higher education in Pakistan through foreign collaborations and joint academic programmes with leading foreign universities.
He said that the Punjab government is always working closely with Balochistan government in school and higher education sector and especially encouraging the youth of Balochistan for higher studies in leading universities of Punjab.
He said that realising the importance of higher education and knowledge economy, the Government of Punjab has already established Punjab Higher Education Commission which has been mandated to cater the growing needs of the province in higher education sector and bringing the provincial higher education institutions at par with international standard. With special focus on professional development of universities, colleges’ faculty and staff, he said that the Punjab HEC has already established two training academies.
“Availing the experience and expertise of Comsats Institute of Information Technology in professional development of university faculty and staff, another training academy will be established in Rawalpindi,” the minister remarked.
The education minister also witnessed an MOU signing ceremony between Punjab HEC and CIIT Islamabad. He vowed to continue undertaking collaborative efforts with the CIIT for promotion of higher education and preservation of cultural heritage of Punjab.