Higher Education Commission, Pakistan September/October 2015 HEC Sets Targets for Next Five YearsP-2 Asia’s First Ever Internet Governance School Launched P-18 Efforts Afoot to Make Higher Education Sector Tobacco-Free P-10 OBER Experts Join Heads to P-25 Devise HRD Plan PINKT P-5 Drive Kicks Off Table of Contents HEC Sets Targets for 2 Next Five Years 7 HEC Holds 3-Day Workshop for IT Professionals, Researchers 9 Pakistan-Republic of Korea Friendship Celebrated at HEC HEC Gathers Experts 10 HEC, CA&DD Launch Drive for Drugs, for Aligning Country’s Tobacco Free Higher Education Sector 5 HRD Plan with Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman Delivers Lecture on Production Platform 12 Significance of Knowledge Economy 16 HEC to Set up Student Start-Up Business Centres in Universities Social Sciences Body on Business Education 10 Social Scientists 17 8 Showcase Studies Meets Pakistan School on Internet Governance 18 Launched HEC Marks 10th Anniversary of Cuba’s News & Views is published after every 20 Support after 2005 Earthquake two months. No part of this publication may be reproduced in HEC, PEC to Strengthen Accreditation of 23 any form without prior written Engineering Education in Pakistan permission of the publisher. 26 NAEAC Body Inspects Food Science Degree The views expressed by authors in Programmes at KIU the articles is their sole responsibility and not of HEC. The Commission 34 Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture would like to thank all the Kicks Off at UAF institutions and individuals who contributed information and photographs for this Magazine. Editor Aayesha Ikram Graphic Designer Raja Ahmad Nadeem Publisher: Reporter Higher Education Waseem Khaliqdad Commission, Pakistan HEC Sets Targets for Next Five Years An increase in resources for MTDF session stresses need for creating awareness about higher education followed by knowledge economy among parliamentarians and policy makers an effective utilization is inevitable if Pakistan has to Media to be sensitized to bring a change in general mindset build a strong knowledge towards education economy that will ultimately Entrepreneurship will be encouraged among not only students but lead to achievement of also faculty members country’s economic and social development goals. Steps to be taken for character building of youth while creating an environment in universities to strengthen moral and social values This was unanimously Focus on human resource development will be ensured recommended in a day-long consultative session organized Social Sciences and Humanities will be paid special attention by Higher Education Need for improvement in the educational standards at all levels to Commission (HEC) for be highlighted development of higher education sector’s Medium Accreditation Councils will be strengthened Term Development Framework Proper monitoring as well as enhanced funding for medical (MTDF-III) for 2015-20. education with focus on allied health sciences to be ensured Intellectuals, professionals, 10 best Pakistani universities and 10 best research centres to be researchers and educationists transformed into research universities and international centres in addition to founding respectively members of the task force Prominent among those who Mrs. Razina Alam Khan, Engr. created in 2002 as well as some attended the session included Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Engr. Members of the Commission Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman Muhammad Asghar, Dr. attended the session and HEC, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Ms. Masood Hameed Khan, Dr. deliberated on the identified Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Lt. Gen (R) S. Nilofar Shaikh, Dr. Mujahid areas of priorities to be focused Shujaat Hussain, Dr. Kamran, Dr. Khalid Mehmood in MTDF-III for the country’s Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Dr. Khan, Dr. Naveed Malik, Dr. higher education sector. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Khalid Aftab, Dr. U.A.G. Isani, 2 Dr. Najma Najam, Dr. Samina Amin Qadir, Dr. Fazal A. Khalid, Dr. Raza Bhatti, Dr. Mahmood ul Hassan Butt, Mr. Atta-ur- Rahman, Secretary Higher Education KPK, and Syed Shahid Mohyuddin Qadir, Secretary Higher Education, AJK. The gathering agreed that it was imperative to further politicians, businesses, entrepreneurial models being strengthen the higher industry, faculty members, implemented at international education sector and align the students, parents. It was universities were discussed. academic and research agreed that a multi-disciplinary priorities of higher education approach in both academic and Another important aspect institutions with the national research areas is inevitable, highlighted in the discussion economic goals, particularly given the rapid scientific was character building of with reference to achievement developments and their impact youth in addition to create an of targets set for 2025 as well on societies. environment in universities for as objectives of China Pakistan strengthening the moral and Economic Corridor (CPEC). social values which were, unfortunately, ignored in the The need for creating past. Human resource awareness regarding “ development was another key significance of knowledge topic of the discussion. economy among parliamentarians and policy “ It was agreed that in addition makers, besides sensitizing to science fields, Social media to bring a change in Sciences and Humanities must mindset, was highly be given special attention. emphasized. Another area which was Applauding the Chairman HEC The meeting also focused on especially focused for HR for holding this important ways to promote development was the session, the participants called entrepreneurship among not Educational Management. It for a wider engagement with only students but also faculty was argued that people must all the stakeholders including members. Different be trained in this discipline to 3 overcome governance issues Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said that completed their studies,while of universities. The state of the higher education sector challenges and constraints had primary and secondary has witnessed an increase of made achievements of target education in the country also universities from a mere 59 to difficult. He hoped that the came under discussion and 171 to date, adding that the new plan would cover the meeting agreed that student enrolment has reached increased equitable access to though it is not HEC’s 1.4 million while gender higher education, excellence in purview, yet enrolment too has governance, leadership and recommendations to increased from 32 to 48 management, increased faculty improve per cent. “But access to with highest academic educational education has not qualification, enhanced quality standards at these reached 10 per cent as of curricular offerings, levels must be per the previous plan. It research, innovation and given. would be wise to keep commercialization as well as ground realities in mind financial management and Other key points of discussion enhanced investment. included increasing equitable access to education, He further said that the innovation and Government of Pakistan has commercialization, ICT supported the efforts of HEC initiatives, financial by granting additional management and enhanced financial resources during investment, further the last couple of years. strengthening of Accreditation Councils, proper monitoring as Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, former well as enhanced funding for Chairman HEC, strongly medical education, focus on recommended an immense allied health sciences, increase in the budget for mechanism for funding of foreign scholarships. He said private universities and that Pakistan requires strengthening them in critical additional 60,000 PhD areas, distance education faculty. programmes, college teacher training and special The participants also called programmes for qualified for 25 per cent increase in women who are disconnected research grant programme from their professions. apart from promotion of innovation, focus on Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman technology parks, launching HEC, while presenting an of joint projects and overview of Commission’s creation of a revolving achievements over the last 13 innovation fund to support years, said it was necessary to indigenous technology consult major stakeholders of therefore it is important to re- development. It was also the higher education sector adjust our targets.” He said suggested to transform 10 best especially those who dreamt that the last 13 years also universities into research of the HEC and its ambitions witnessed a remarkable universities and 10 best prior to its inception in 2002 increase in number of PhDs research centres into so as to ensure that we are on produced countrywide. Last international centres by the right track. year alone, 1351 PhD scholars enhanced grant. 4 HEC Gathers Experts for Aligning Country’s HRD Plan with Production Platform Knowledge is main driving force that sets dimensions for the nations: Ahsan Iqbal Higher Education Commission (HEC) recently Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal said organized a one-day conference entitled that knowledge is the main driving force that sets “National Human Resource Development Plan dimensions of nations and the development or (2015-2025) -- Visualizing Socio-Economic decay of countries depend upon their standard of Growth of Pakistan” at the HEC Secretariat. Prof. knowledge creation and its linkage with the Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, production platform of that country. Development and Reforms, was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. He said that youth are the most valuable asset of the country and they should be