ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani universities need to improve the governance and get into the level of policy making as the world in 2015 will be more challenging in race among comity of nations.
Sania Nishtar, a former caretaker education minister and government adviser, was speaking on Wednesday at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) during a seminar titled, ‘The World Beyond 2015: Is Higher Education Ready’.
CIIT Rector Dr Junaid Zaidi inaugurated the event and invited all participating universities to carry the discussion back with them and continue it.
The future is in the hands of all institutions and higher education, with its knowledge and connectivity, must think about how they can make a better society post-2015, he commented.
Nishtar stated that the potential in the Pakistani higher education sector needs to be tapped to meet upcoming challenges. “Following the passage of the 18th Amendment, the onus for leading still rests with the federal government and bodies such as the Higher Education Commission as it is a binding to have a body in the centre for education,” she said.
She asserted that after a decade of investment, the higher education sector is ready for new challenges and growing responsibilities.
She called for more research in sectors where the country was struggling, including energy and water supply. “Research should be linked to academia and industry to fill the gap and make it more practical,” she added.
Unesco Officer In Charge Abdul Hameed Hakeem suggested that the target and challenges of 2015 could be met by reducing the number of out-of-school children, improving general literacy and increasing investment in education.
British Council Country Director Peter Upton said South Asia could become the next China in a few years.
He stressed on the need for an increase in research funding and opportunities for employability, besides refining the quality assurance system at varsities or higher education body level.
The day included a series of discussions and forums with a concurrent online discourse.
Other speakers emphasised the need for universities to address national progress and produce indigenous solutions. Other British Council and UNESCO officials also spoke.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2014.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ