ISLAMABAD- Plans for establishment of federal women university, national skills university and establishment of Seerat Chairs in universities across Pakistan came under review at a meeting held here at Higher Education Commission (HEC) Secretariat on Saturday.
Ahsan Iqbal, federal minister for planning, development and reforms, chaired the meeting. Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed gave an overview of all these projects. Baleegh-Ur-Rahman, minister for federal education and training, was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal stressed the government's vision in prioritising the higher education sector to fulfil development goals, according to Vision 2025. He spoke of honing human and social capital for the country's development.
The minister recommended that by 2017-18, the medium term goals should be achieved which entailed setting up a university or its sub-campus in every district of the country, so that students desirous of acquiring higher education would be available at their doorstep. He stressed that HEC should also ensure that access to higher education is increased without any compromise on quality.
Commenting on presentation of up-gradation of Islamabad's Federal Women College F/7-2 to women university, he hoped that all formalities should be completed in September. Speaking about national skills university, he said that skills-based training is a critical component of the national development. He said that the skills university would provide better employability to the youth. "This university will also certify and accredit the skills programmes across the country that will enable youth to gain employment overseas."
The project to set up Seerat Chairs in various universities is also direly needed, which will be centres of excellence and each of these chairs will be dedicated for research in different subjects pertaining to the life of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) which may include leadership, gender issues, rights of minorities, etc.
Another project entitled Technology Development Fund also came under discussion. The minister said that the project is aimed at ensuring that returning PhDs should not only teach but also actively get involved in research in the relevant areas. He also asked HEC to identify disciplines in which PhD scholarships will be offered in the next five years, stressing these disciplines are directly related to country's society and economy. The minister directed HEC to complete all formalities related to all these projects by September next.