Ahsan Iqbal urges HEC to ensure quality education to meet global trend
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ISLAMABAD: (APP) Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to devise a Strategic Framework-2025 for higher education to make it compatible with the worldwide evolving trends.
The fast changing developments and technology are re-defining the paradigm in higher education and Pakistan needs to catch up with the changing paradigm through a new vision for higher education like the one present government introduced in the form of Vision-2025 for sustained economic growth and inclusive development.
Chairing a meeting to review the higher education projects in the country he said the strategic framework-2025 would set the direction and destination of higher education for next ten years.
HEC should hold consultation with the top minds in higher education. This strategic framework would provide guidelines for implementation of five years plan and other short term plans in higher education, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government approved highest number of projects in higher education by doubling its budget in last two and half years.
He sought the physical and financial progress on various higher education projects and directed to speed up the pace of work on various projects to complete them as per schedule.
The minister said HEC should enhance project management skills to complete the projects in efficient and effective manner.
He also asked HEC for devising guidelines for campus design by ensuring energy efficient and environment & people friendly aspects in them.
He pointed out that HEC should take notice of complaints regarding lack of proper space and facilities in private universities, which are located in banglows and directed HEC to strength its monitoring function.
"Regulatory framework ensuring quality education should be made more stringent," he added and emphasized and urged to create the awareness among the citizens about unauthorized universities, which are operating illegally to save educational career of students.
Ahsan Iqbal also sought the plan on immediate basis for implementation of government's initiative on setting up of university campuses at district level and stressed for increasing the coordination with provincial governments for speeding up the pace of work on it.
About Central Asian Regional Cooperation University (CAREC), Ahsan Iqbal asked the all formalities should be completed on urgent basis to finalize the charter of the university in order to operationalize it in September 2017.
This university would serve Pakistan as well as Afghanistan and CARs by imparting high quality education in management, science, technology and other disciplines.
Ahsan Iqbal also directed to operationalize Technology Innovation Fund at its earliest offering competitive research grants to Ph.D scholars returning to Pakistan from research in areas of industry, agricultural applications to promote academia-industry link.
Meanwhile, French Ambassador to Pakistan Mrs. Martine Dorance called on Federal Minister Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal.
They exchanged matters of mutual interests between Pakistan and France and discussed the collaboration in various areas of economy as well as in higher education between the two countries.
