National Consultative Conference on HEC Vision 2025 organized by The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, May 29, 2017

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The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan organized the National Consultative Conference on HEC Vision 2025 on May 29, 2017 to deliberate future plans for higher education sector and discuss further improvement in the reform process in line with the Government of Pakistan’s Vision 2025.  

Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform was chief guest on the occasion. Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai, Minister for Education, Gilgit-Baltistan, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, Engr. Jawed Salim Qureshi, Chairman, Pakistan Engineering Council, Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director HEC, Mr. Shoaib Mir, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, President ECO Science Foundation Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, Vice Chancellors, deans and senior faculty, research scholars as well as representatives of different federal and provincial departments, industry and other stakeholders participated in the conference. 

HEC Vision 2025 is a comprehensive document, which has been prepared after extensive deliberation and consultation with eminent academicians, policy makers, business and industry leaders, and aims to consolidate HEC’s achievements during the last 15 years and carry on the reform process in a more ambitious and strategic manner while focusing on intellectual capital which is the way forward to build a knowledge economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal revealed how quality higher education can play a vital role in turning the country into a knowledge-based economy. He observed that the world has entered into the fourth industrial revolution wherein big data cloud computing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, bio-technology, automation and robotics have evolved great significance. He maintained that competence in all these areas requires excellence in higher education. Terming the Vice Chancellors of Universities corps commanders of higher education sector, he urged them to concentrate on turning the universities into engines of innovation.

In his opening remarks earlier, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed shared the role of HEC in blending the human resource development with the country's socio-economic growth, promoting ICT-embedded education programmes, inspiring universities to share experience with other educational institutions, enhancing quality of higher education and research, increasing scholarships and global connectivity, facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship, and encouraging universities for community development.

He said the strategic priorities of the HEC Vision 2025 include sustainability and consolidation of HEC; increasing equitable access; excellence in leadership; governance and management; research, innovation and commercialization; increased faculty with highest academic qualification; enhanced quality with curricular content for all levels of qualification offered; promoting ICT for education; and financial management and enhanced investment.

Dr. Masoom Yasinzai presented a resolution on behalf of Vice Chancellors and Rectors of Universities. “We are grateful for all the support received from the Government of Pakistan particularly Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform. The HEC Vision 2025 has chartered an exemplary and ambitious roadmap for enhanced access, qualitative improvement of curricula and vibrant world-class research model for our institutions of higher learning. We affirmatively resolve that each and every leader of the higher education sector will play its vital role in achieving the aspirational goals and targets set in the HEC Vision 2025.”

The conference participants were provided an opportunity to take part in special breakout sessions on Human Resources Development in Areas of National Importance, Quality of Education at Undergraduate Level, Universities as Hubs for Innovative Research in National Priority Areas, Role of Universities’ Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICS) in Discovery and Dissemination of Useful Knowledge, Information and Communication Technologies, Access to Digital Information and Advanced Programmes, Standards Compliant Teacher Education Programmes, National Institutions of Applied Technologies with specific reference to CPEC, Embedding Social Values and Ethics in Higher Education System, Community Colleges for Skill Development, and Good Governance in Higher Education Institutions. The recommendations of these sessions will be considered for making any change in HEC Vision 2025 document.