Higher Education Commission, Pakistan November/December 2015 HEC Speech Contest A Tribute to 1965 War Heroes P- 2 HEC, EU Brief VCs on Erasmus+ Programme P- 7 Seminar Sheds Light on Significance of Intellectual Property Rights P-11 Virtual University Invites Papers for Conference P-15 President Urges Table of Contents Youth to Learn from 2 Lives of National 4 HEC to Launch Quality Assurance Review Heroes Process 7 HEC, EU Brief VCs on Erasmus+ Programme HEC Pays Glowing Tribute to Allama Iqbal, 9 Quaid-e-Azam HEC Sends Off 73 Scholars to Germany 10 HEC, IIUI Mark Int'l University Sports Day 5 for PhD Studies 11 Seminar Sheds Light on Significance of Intellectual Property Rights 12 Zong Wins HEC Contract to Extend Wireless US Dy. Sec. of State Broadband Services to Students Reviews HEC 8 Collaboration with 13 World Bank Mission Reviews TESP Progress USAID PAMS Role in Recognition of Pakistani 19 Physicians, Scientists Achievements Lauded Advancements in Rehab Sciences Vital News & Views is published after every 21 Means of Stability for the Disabled two months. No part of this publication may be reproduced in 22 PU Information Management Department any form without prior written Turns 100 permission of the publisher. Realize Importance of Research, Urges 24 The views expressed by authors in DUHS VC the articles is their sole responsibility and not of HEC. The Commission 26 Robotics Competition Held at PAK-KIET would like to thank all the institutions and individuals who 28 NUST School Hosts DICE Automotive 2015 contributed information and photographs for this Magazine. Editor Aayesha Ikram Graphic Designer Raja Ahmad Nadeem Publisher: Reporter Higher Education Waseem Khaliqdad Commission, Pakistan HEC holds Speech Competition to Mark 50th Anniversary of 1965 War President Urges Youth to Learn from Lives of National Heroes Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of Pakistan, has urged youth to learn from the lives and sacrifices of our national heroes who left no stone unturned to preserve sovereignty of the homeland. He said the role of youth is critical for development of nations. The President was speaking at the National Speech forces in the 1965 war and mentioned initiation of China Competition organized by the recalled how they, fully backed Pakistan Economic Corridor Higher Education Commission by the nation, defeated the which he said will not only (HEC) to mark the 50th enemy. He also mentioned the bring great change in Pakistan’s anniversary of the 1965 war success of Zarb-e-Azb, stressing socio-economic situation but and to honour the sacrifices that achievements in this war will also have big impact on the made particularly by Pakistan’s will have positive effects on the whole region. armed forces and nation as a entire region. He said that a whole. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, clear difference can be Terming corruption a major Chairman HEC, was also observed since the current problem in institutions, he said present. Government assumed charge the current Government is in 2013. taking steps to get rid of this The President appreciated menace. He also urged the winners and other participants youth to understand how for taking part in the Speech Undoubtedly, there are corruption brings destruction Competition entitled “One a number of in a society and widely spread Nation, One Destination: Set to challenges facing the message to fight against it. Regain its Rightful Place in the Comity of Nations” and Pakistan, but at the Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman expressing their views. same time, we have a HEC said that the youth should lot of opportunities to be aware of sacrifices of their He also appreciated HEC for advance towards forefathers, adding that organizing co-curricular nations never forget their activities for university development. heroes. He appreciated the students, underscoring that armed forces for discharging such activities provide an Mr. Mamnoon said that their duties diligently. He impetus to them for engaging undoubtedly there are a underlined the significance of themselves in constructive number of challenges facing unity and elaborated how activities. Pakistan but at the same time division in our ranks will be we have a lot of opportunities disastrous for all of us. He He eulogized the sacrifices for advancing towards called for dealing with the rendered by country’s armed development. He particularly enemy within. He also stressed 2 the importance of promoting University, Lahore (2nd position) first position holders each in culture of tolerance in the and Yasir Rashid, University of Urdu and English sessions, society to become a unified the Punjab, Lahore (3rd while Rs. 40,000 and and strong nation. The position). Rs. 30, 000 were given to the Chairman said that different second and third position HEC schemes were aimed to In the English contest, the holders respectively in the strengthen human resource, students who won first, the both categories. particularly equipping youth second and third positions with latest knowledge and were Manaal Ayesha, Fatima The Urdu session was chaired skills. Jinnah Women University by Dr. Najeeba Arif from (FJWU), Rawalpindi; Khushal Islamic International University Winners of Urdu contest were Khan, National Defence Islamabad while the English Makhdoom Shahab ud Din, University (NDU), Islamabad; session was chaired by Dr. National University of Sciences and Sidra Baig, University of Shahid Siddiqui, Vice and Technology (1st position), Haripur. A cash prize worth Rs. Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open Zahid Ali, Government College 50,000 was awarded to the University Islamabad. Cuban Ambassador Visits HEC Chairman HEC for Using Education as Diplomatic Tool to Boost Relations Mr. Jesús Zenén Buergo Concepción, Ambassador of Cuba to Pakistan, paid a farewell visit to Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and called on Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, at the Commission Secretariat. the 10th International Congress The Chairman HEC stressed the The Cuban Ambassador of Higher Education University need for using education as a stressed the need for 2016 in Cuba going to be held diplomatic tool to improve enhancing country-to-country in February. The conference relations between Pakistan and collaboration in various entitled “Innovative University Cuba. He accepted the academic fields including for a Sustainable Human invitation and said that such Agriculture, Biotechnology Development” will be gatherings are fruitful for and Arts. He once again attended by over 3,000 future collaboration in the invited the Chairman to attend people. higher education sector. 3 Ensuring Adherence to QA Criteria Accreditation HEC to Launch Quality Councils Assurance Review Process Progress Reviewed The Quality Assurance Agency of Higher Education Commission recently organized a Need Assessment Meeting with representatives of The Higher Education quality mechanism of HEC but Accreditation Councils. Commission organized a will also deter any violation of brainstorming session with the HEC policies by the The representatives of National experts for review of higher existing and future HEIs. The Accreditation Council for education institutions, in which experts appreciated the plan Teachers Education, National a plan was shared to launch a to initiate the review process Agricultural Education Quality Assurance (QA) Review to ensure a good quality of Accreditation Council, National Process in universities. education in the national HEIs. Computing Education Accreditation Council, and The purpose of this monitoring They also shared their views National Business Education process is to ensure adherence about refinement of the Accreditation Council, to defined QA criteria so that proposed review process so attended the meeting at the quality of teaching and that the actual review could Commission’s Secretariat. research in the universities, meaningfully contribute to their campuses and sub- improvement of overall The objective of the meeting campuses could be ensured. governance, teaching and was to review the progress and research at universities across functions of Councils in the The meeting was chaired by Dr. country. light of Vision/Mission Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman statement. HEC, and attended by several Summing up the discussion, academic experts and quality Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Dr. Ghulam Raza Bhatti, practitioners from across the emphasized that HEC and Executive Director HEC, country both in person and universities need to work reiterated the strategic focus of through video conferencing. together to improve the state HEC in improving the quality of of higher education in the higher education being Speaking on the occasion, the country since it is a joint imparted in the universities. Chairman HEC apprised the responsibility of all to put participants about the collective efforts for this noble The increased growth in higher importance and the dire need cause. education sector across the of such a review mechanism. world and internationalization He advised Quality Assurance of education instigated quality He mentioned an array of Agency to chalk out a review debate among the quality issues being faced at plan on urgent basis and stakeholders. Accreditation of the HEIs across the country arrange review visits of expert programmes and institutions and emphasized initiation of senior academicians to and ranking of HEIs have the review process that will not universities across the promoted the culture of only ensure adherence to the country. competition. 4 13 Students to Pursue MS Leading to PhD HEC Sends Off 73 Scholars to Germany for PhD Studies The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan recently organized a send-off ceremony in honour of 73 HEC scholars proceeding to Germany for doctoral studies. Ms. Ina Lepel, Ambassador of Germany, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, and Dr. Barth Manzoori, Section Head of DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, were also present. proposal with the United States, the Chairman Interviews were held for selection of scholars said that 10,000 scholarships, 1000 every year, under the Overseas Scholarship Scheme Phase-II will be extended to students under this and Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Project in May programme.