Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan organized interactive discussion on Higher Education Vision 2025 to seek suggestions and ponder upon the targets of higher education sector for the next 10 years.
Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms was the chief guest on the occasion, while Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, HEC and Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director, HEC were also present. Academicians and top management of various universities attended the discussion in a large number.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal shared the targets set so far under the Higher Education Vision 2025 which will be formally announced soon. He said the Vision envisages six indicators which the universities have to concentrate for achievement of targeted excellence. He said the higher education institutions need to improve fundamental purposeful instruction, become place of quality research and innovation, strengthen linkages with industry, turn into agents of change, embed technology, and produce entrepreneurial leaders.
He observed that every activity revolves around knowledge in the current knowledge revolution era which necessitates a paradigm shift in the learning models of Pakistan. It is unavoidable for every task to revolve around knowledge in order to ensure human progress, he maintained. He said that as the Vision 2025 eyes building a knowledge economy, so the Higher Education Vision 2025 has been made a vital part of it. Stressing the need for political stability and continuity of policies, he affirmed that Pakistan needs a strong knowledge foundation to become an Asian tiger.
The Minister said Pakistan needs to keep pace with the modern world by re-aligning its educational structure and bringing in dynamism in knowledge and introducing multi-disciplinary subjects. He informed that the Government plans to establish Academy of Social Sciences to promote Social Sciences in the country. The focus from STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] subjects has now been shifted to STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics] subjects, he added.
He said 10000 Pakistani scholars will be sent to the United States for study in the next 10 years under the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project an economic game changer, while the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor will become a knowledge game changer.
Ahsan Iqbal said that curriculum must be re-designed to incorporate inter-disciplinary approach. He noted that since 2013, allocation of funds to HEC has increased more than 100 percent. He added that key to development in today’s economy is knowledge and HEC must continue its policies for sustainable results.
In his opening remarks earlier, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed shed light on various other initiatives HEC has taken to increase equitable access, ensure relevance of research and improve quality in addition to strengthening governance and promoting entrepreneurship.
The addresses were followed by a Question and Answer Session in which academicians not only asked thought-provoking questions but also presented valuable suggestions with regard to the Higher Education Vision 2025.
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