Punjab Governor said Higher Education Commission must continue to perform its functions for national integration and prosperity

HEC to continue functioning for national integrity, says Khosa,
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa on Thursday said Higher Education Commission (HEC) must continue to perform its functions for national integration and prosperity, which it has successfully rendered for the last eight years.

Addressing one-day national conference titled, ‘Universities building Pakistan; Setting Standard for the 21st Century Pakistan’ arranged by HEC, he said HEC’s role remained instrumental in empowering universities with right mechanisms and approach to compete in the global community.

Latif Khosa said universities are the only most potential source of building a strong economy and nation as a whole, emphasizing the need to impart practical training to the youth to develop creative economy, introducing the culture of entrepreneurship at all levels of education.

The Governor said that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has created the unique model and envisioned the role of UGC in 1973; now HEC is serving the higher education sector towards the socio-economic development of the country in a holistic manner, keeping the national spirit supreme.

The universities should develop new models of business to contribute in economic, social and cultural flux, he said. The universities have the capability to provide industry-relevant courses and learning opportunities in their capacity as mediators between students and industry.

The universities by maintaining close links with the creative economy can create and demonstrate both responsiveness to industry needs and reciprocity by acting as catalysts and centers for knowledge exchange, supporting innovation and development, Latif Khosa said.

Pakistani youth should be oriented in a manner that they can make their mark not only in the field of education but in sports and other activities.

‘We need to channelize their energies so that they are not made tools of terrorism’, said Khosa. He emphasized the need for professional pre-and in-service training and strengthening of teaching practices to produce right type of human resource and HEC is the best platform to achieve this target.

Equal opportunity should be given to all academic disciplines and not just science and technology because arts, humanities and social sciences can turn the tables for Pakistan if treated properly, he said.

HEC through the Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2011-2015 with the in- built objective of “Universities Building Pakistan’, is creating the knowledge capital and technology required to enable country Pakistan to join the ranks of the industrially advanced countries within the next decade.

This forum will lead to a national consensus on how to salvage the economic situation and image of Pakistan through a strong network of higher education set up.

He said academia can play vital role in combating the war on terror through equipping the youth with the market-oriented knowledge.

HEC chairman Dr Javed Laghari said that academics have an important role to play in the development of the country. He said that universities have three major challenges in the 21st century, which include building economy, building communities and building leadership.

Member, Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand said that Pakistan needs a contribution from engineers and scientists to develop and refine the processes for conversion of coal gas to diesel and separation of copper, gold, silver and cobalt from ores through efficient means.

Appreciating the research showcased by the universities, Adviser to Prime Minister on Social Sector Shahnaz Wazir Ali said, ‘I wish our parliamentarians and policy makers were here to see the wonderful work done by our young researchers’.

South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) Director General Maria Sultan said, ‘We are going through a phase of both transition and turmoil so we have to look towards that niche or institution that can help us come out of this situation by setting standards for 21st century education as well as ensuring that they are met’. She said that knowledge always come through integration, which can be ensured if politicians, academicians, scientists and industrialist realize its significance.Daily times

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