22/05/2026
The Three-day EGBP-HE Program β Pakistan Series concluded at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), where Vice Chancellors from the South region engaged directly with global education experts and academic leaders from Washington State University (WSU).
Organized by the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan (HI,SI), the interactive sessions focused on institutional transformation, strategic collaboration, shared governance, academic freedom, innovation, and strengthening international linkages.
PHEC Chairperson Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan (HI,SI) said universities must transform themselves into centres of innovation, entrepreneurship and societal development by aligning higher education with the emerging economic and technological needs of the country. He said higher education institutions should focus on research-driven solutions, community engagement and global partnerships to address challenges. He stressed the need for strengthening university-industry linkages, interdisciplinary research and international collaboration to improve academic quality and ensure socio-economic uplift.
Distinguished experts including Ambassador Asif Chaudhry, Dr. Paul Whitney, and Dr. Kulvinder Gill emphasized the importance of skill-based education, research commercialization, and preparing students for a globally connected world through meaningful partnerships and collaborative leadership.
The session centered on two main challenges facing higher education institutions: preparing students for life and work in a globally connected world with rapidly changing skills requirements, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence, and enabling scholarly research to serve as a public good by addressing global challenges through community-focused and interdisciplinary approaches.
Participants actively participated in discussions about implementing skills-based education, integrating AI into curriculum, developing interdisciplinary research teams, and translating academic research into practical community applications to address local challenges like climate change impacts. The participants explored how to balance traditional academic autonomy with increased accountability while fostering collaborative research environments that can better serve both local communities and global challenges.
With successful sessions held in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, PHEC has further advanced its mission to position Punjabβs higher education sector prominently on the global stage.
