ISLAMABAD, Jun 18 (APP):A 15-member delegation of academicians from Bangladesh visited the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Secretariat and called on Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar. The delegation, currently on an official academic visit under an initiative aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the higher education sector, was briefed on the HEC’s role and functions. The Chairman HEC, accompanied by Advisor Research & Innovation Division HEC Muhammad Ali Nasir, Advisor …
Academic delegation from Bangladesh visits HEC, calls on Chairman
ISLAMABAD, Jun 18 (APP):A 15-member delegation of academicians from Bangladesh visited the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Secretariat and called on Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar.
The delegation, currently on an official academic visit under an initiative aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the higher education sector, was briefed on the HEC’s role and functions.
The Chairman HEC, accompanied by Advisor Research & Innovation Division HEC Muhammad Ali Nasir, Advisor Information Technology Division HEC Engr. Nazeer Ahmed, Director General Scholarships and Global Engagement Mrs. Aayesha Ikram, Project Director Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor Mr. Jehanzeb Khan, briefed the dignitaries on the HEC’s mandate, core objectives, and key operational instruments.
He said HEC was upgraded in 2002 from University Grants Commission (UGC) to pursue the goals of enhancing access, improving quality, and aligning relevance of the higher education in the country.
He also underlined the expansion of Pakistan’s higher education sector since the inception of HEC.
The Chairman HEC apprised the delegates of the HEC human resource development initiatives, under which HEC has so far awarded around 300,000 scholarships.
He also shed light on the details of Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme for Bangladeshi students. He said Pakistan is offering 500 undergraduate scholarships to the youth of Bangladesh under the Pakistan-Banlgadesh Knowledge Corridor.
He underlined that 74 Bangladeshi students are, at present, studying in various disciplines at top Pakistani universities. He added that HEC aims to enroll around 250 Bangladeshi students in the next batch of students under the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme.
Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar reiterated HEC’s commitment to executing the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor in letter and spirit.
“Bangladesh is our brother country with whom we enjoy cordial relations. We have a shared history and heritage, and the only way forward in the bilateral relations is to work together, support each other, and make progress in all fields,” he underlined.
He emphasised that HEC will extend all-out support to UGC Bangladesh, the civil servants of the brotherly country, and the academicians serving the Bangladeshi universities.
He asserted that the Pakistani universities are open to welcome students from Bangladesh.
The delegates expressed their gratitude to the Government of Pakistan and HEC for the initiative of Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor.
They affirmed that the bilateral cooperation in the higher education sector will lead towards a brighter future of the two countries.
The dignitaries asserted that the future will witness the relations between the two brotherly countries deepening further, not only in higher education but also at geopolitical and geostrategic level in South Asia.
The session was highly interactive and the Chairman answered to different questions asked by the dignitaries pertaining to the academic, research, and universities operational matters.
Earlier, the visiting dignitaries visited different universities in Sindh and Islamabad as they explore Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Apart from holding an interaction with Minister of State, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. Wajiha Qamar at HEC and a meeting with Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at the Parliament House. The delegation also had a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) which was chaired by the Additional Secretary Asia Pacific, Syed Asad Ali Gillani.
The academicians will continue their academic engagements in the coming days before departing for Bangladesh. Their visit will definitely pave the way for future collaborations in the field of education and research.
