Collaboration: EU, HEC to promote research culture

ISLAMABAD:

Higher Education Commission (HEC) and European Union (EU) will identify specific areas of mutual interest for increasing interaction among academia and researchers through collaboration in higher education.

This was discussed in a meeting between HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and an EU delegation, led by the delegation’s development adviser in Pakistan Luigi Brogi at the HEC secretariat on Monday, said a press release.

The chairman shared significant investments of the commission towards development of institutional facilities and human resource including faculty, introduction of new disciplines in market based technologies, improvement in research facilities, enhancement of technological infrastructure, Pakistan Education and Research Network, digital library, and linkages with different foreign universities.

He also shed light on provision of facilities for students through Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme.

Ahmed dwelt on activities of the HEC for capacity building of researchers and support to universities in its promotion and commercialisation. He emphasised that Pakistan would be interested in academic linkages in different areas of socio-economic importance.

Through the handholding project, comparatively better universities were being encouraged to share their experiences and expertise with schools, colleges, and even small universities within their areas, he added.

The delegates expressed their appreciation of the role of HEC in developing human resource of the country and promoting research culture through various initiatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2015.