Following my appointment as the founding chairman of the Higher Education Commission in 2002, the highest priority was given to four aspects of education in our universities: improving the quality.
Quality and innovation
July 21, 2021
Recently a brainstorming session was held in the Ministry of Science & Technology to consider the draft of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.
The efforts of the Ministry of Science & Technology to introduce a new policy need to be applauded. Innovation is essential not only for industrial growth but for the survival of our nation. Therefore, public policy must focus on creating demand for innovation and indigenous technology capability building. Our efforts are often supply driven, rather than being demand driven, which leads to failure.
The three major players in the promotion of innovation and the development of a knowledge economy are universities, industry and enabling government policies. All three players thrive on the extent of merit-based competitiveness that needs to be in-built into the systems and on the efficiency of interaction among all these three key players. The development of a knowledge economy require
Tough challenges
May 12, 2021
Universities in Pakistan have suffered greatly in the last three years because of the misguided policies of the Higher Education Commission and the failure of its leadership to convince the government to provide proper and reasonable funding.
The operational budget of the HEC has remained frozen since 2017, causing huge damage to the higher education sector. It was Rs63.18 bln in 2017-18, Rs65.02 bln in 2018-19, Rs64.10 bln 2019-20 and Rs64.10 bln in 2020-21. The grant per student enrolled has collapsed in dollar terms, which is relevant as research students spend most of the university funds for imported chemicals, solvents and equipment. It was $782 in the year 2013-14, but is now only $413 per student after seven years, although inflation and other factors should have led to its doubling in this seven-year period to about $1600 per student.