Higher education is key to fueling national growth through developing human capital and training skilled workers. However, Pakistan faces challenges in higher education including low enrollment rates, poor quality, and lack of relevance to national needs. The Higher Education Commission was established to reform higher education and address these challenges through various programs. These programs aim to improve access, quality, relevance and research, such as increasing scholarships, faculty development, university partnerships with industry, and funding for research projects.

1. www.hec.gov.pk

2. www.hec.gov.pk
MOHAMMAD SALMAN
Adviser (R&D)

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HigherEducation Fuels National Growth
Socio-Economic Development Plans
Economic, Industrial, Services
Infrastructure, Governance, Defence
Higher Education: Knowledge Base
Human Capital
Implementation
National Growth
Trained
Manpower
Government
Society
HEC

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Current Status, Challenges &
Government Actions

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The Demographic Challenge
Year
Population
(Millions)
Age group
17-23
years 2.60% 4.00% 6.00% 8.00%
2000 142.16 18.00 0.53 0.72 1.08 1.44
2005 164.80 21.38 0.62 0.86 1.28 1.71
2010 191.05 25.39 0.72 1.02 1.52 2.03
2015 221.48 30.16 0.83 1.21 1.81 2.41
2020 256.76 35.82 0.97 1.43 2.15 2.87

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Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio In
Selected Countries
3.7
7
12
41
68
74
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Pakistan
India
Malaysia
Israel
Korea
Finland
Percentage
Council of Higher Education, Turkey-Web Site
Pakistan Target 8% ??

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Numberof S&E Researchers
10,800
156,450
583,854
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000
Pakistan
India
China
Country
Number of Researchers
Council of Higher Education, Turkey-Web Site

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Overarching Approach
 Simultaneous Bi-Modal Approach Required
 Bottom-Up
Basic Health, Primary Education, Water ….
 Top-Down
Higher Education
Technology Development
Industrial Linkages

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Key Areas of Improvement
 Access
 Low enrollment in higher education
 Quality
 Poor standard of faculty and lack of training / capacity
building
 Low quality of teaching & research and lack of
relevance to national needs
 Poor governance of universities
 Relevance
 Minimal relevance of higher education to national
needs
50 Years of Neglect

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HigherEducation Reform
 Task Force on Higher Education (4/01)
 Study Group on S & T (10/01)
 Steering Committee on Higher Education (01-08/02)
 Funding of universities to be doubled in 2 years
 Income generated by universities to be retained by
them
 De-link faculty pay from BPS and shift to performance
– based higher pay scale
 Higher Education Commission (09/02)
 Autonomous body
 DDWP Powers, Funds transfer authority

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HEC Mission
“To Facilitate Institutions of
Higher Learning to serve as a
Catalyst of Socio-Economic
Development of Pakistan”

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Functions: Human Resource Development
 Take measures for the establishment of
fellowships, scholarships, visiting professorships
 Facilitates the introduction of education
programs that meet the needs of the
employment market
 Encourage, support and facilitate training
program, workshops and symposia

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Functions: Promotion of Research &
Development
 Support the development of linkages between
 Institutions and industry
 National and international organizations that fund
research and development
 Facilitate the introduction of educational
programmes that meet the needs of the
employment market

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Functions: Quality Assurance
 Prescribe conditions for opening and operating
Higher Education Institutions in the public and
private sector
 Carry out accreditation of Institutions including
their departments, faculties and disciplines by
giving them appropriate ratings

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HEC Strategy and Aims

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HEC Strategic Aims
Infrastructure Development: Physical, Technology
Good Governance & Management
Quality Assurance: Standards, Assessment, Accreditation
Faculty
Development
Improving
Access &
Learning
Excellence in
Research
Relevance to
National
Priorities
CoreSupport

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Faculty Development
Programmes and Achievements

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Year-Wise Scholarships Awarded for
Studies Abroad
96
58
23 20
6 11
115
103
22
90
12
23
219
135
30
110
64 59
210
130
85
287
41
47
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Engineering &
Technology
Physical Sciences Agriculture &
Veterinary Sciences
Biological & Medical
Sciences
Business Education Social Sciences
Total Number of Scholarships Awarded = 1996
FY 2003-2004
FY 2004-2005
FY 2005-2006
FY 2006-2007

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Numberof Scholarships Awarded for
PhDStudies in Pakistani Universities
247
196
572
316
209
446
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Agriculture &
Veterinary Sciences
Biological & Medical
Sciences
Physical Sciences Engineering &
Technology
Business Education Social Sciences
Total Number of Scholarships Awarded = 1986

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Achievements: Faculty Development
 Human Resource Development
 Indigenous PhD 1986
 Foreign MS/PhD 1996
 Post doctoral 275
In-service training by HEC 733
 Reverse Brain Drain
 Foreign Faculty Hiring Long term 201
 Foreign Faculty Hiring Short term 90

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Improving Learning and Access
Programmes and Achievements

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Technology Infrastructure: Leveraging
Information Technology
 University Computerization & Networking
 Computer Laboratories
 Campus wide high-speed LAN
 Computerization of Administration
 PERN
 Digital Library
 PAKSAT – 1
 Distance Education
 Virtual University
 Educational TV Channels
 Video Lecturing
 Information Management System
 HEC External Website
 PERN Website
 HEC Workspace Portal

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Relevance to National Priorities
Programmes and Achievements

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Knowledge Base forEconomic Growth
 Industry Involved in Curriculum Review
 Encourage Internships
 Funded Research
 UNESCO Seminar on University-Industry
Collaboration
 Focus on Applied Research
 Technology Incubators

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Knowledge Base forEconomic Growth
 Agriculture Sector: Food Technology
 Univ. of Agriculture, Faisalabad
 University of Karachi
 Sindh Agricultural University, Tandojam
 Petroleum Sector (Geology & Mining)
 University of Peshawar
 University of Balochistan
 Mehran University of Engineering & Technology
 University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore
 Automotive Institute
 NED
 Information Technology
 IT Institutes
 Institute of Telecomm at Mehran University

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Good Governance and Management
Programmes and Achievements

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Programmes
 e-HEC
 Quality Assurance
 Project Monitoring

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Quality Assurance
 Quality Enhancement Cells
 ISO 9000 Certification
 Examination System Review
 Quality of Faculty
 Appointment Criteria
 Tenure Track
 Training and Research Opportunities
 Curriculum Review
 Industry Collaboration
 International Standards
 4 – year undergraduate degree standardization

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Excellence in Research
Programmes and Achievements

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Research Support Programmes
 National Research Program for Universities (NRPU)
 University-Industry Technology Support Program (UITSP)
 Strengthening of Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning in New and
Emerging Technologies (Umbrella Project)
 Country Licenses of Advanced Design Soft wares for Teaching and Training in
Engineering Institutions.
 Pak-US Joint Academic & Research Support Program
 Senior Experts from Germany
 Travel Grants to Teachers /Scholars
 Organizing Seminars/ Conferences/ Workshops etc.
 Pakistan Organization of Collaborative Research (POCR)
 Training Program for Technical / Scientific Staff and Researchers
 Access to Scientific Instrumentation
 Provision of Grant to Public Sector Universities and Degree Awarding Intuitions
For Maintenance of Scientific Equipments.
 Sabbatical Leave Fellowship Program
 Presidential Young Innovator Program
 University Industry Interaction
 Patent
 HEC-CSF Applied Research Support Programme

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National Research Program forUniversities (NRPU)National Research Program forUniversities (NRPU)
IntroductionIntroduction
 This program is basically designed for faculty members of public
sector universities / DAIs, this has been extended to following five
private sector universities:
 The Aga Khan University.
 Lahore University of Management Sciences.
 Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences &
Technology.
 Foundation University Islamabad
 Rifha International University Islamabad
 Research domain: (Social Sciences, Basics, Natural, Physical,
Medical Sciences including Dentistry, Agricultural, Engineering &
Technology.
 Application accepted throughout the year.
 Award decision based on Peer Review.

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Overall status of Received Projects
Total Received Projects 979
Total Projects in
process, 59
Total Projects Approved,
428
Total Projects
Rejected, 492

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Overall status of NRPU Since Jan-03 to Dec-06
University-wise Number of Research Grant Proposals Approved
till 31-12- 2006
9
2
5
1 3
22
2 1
9 10
3
7
2
8
4 5
2
74
2
4
7
1
20
23
3
19
3
26
51
4 4
44
9 9
3 4 4
9
3
7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
AgaKhan
AIOU
BZ
Bharia
BUITMS
COMSATS
DOW
FJWU
FUUAST
GU
GCUFsd
GCULhr
IBA
IU
IIU
KOHATUNI
KingEdward
KU
LCWU
LUMHS
MUET
NED
NUST
NWFPAgr.
NWFPENGG
PUP
PIEAS
PU
QAU
SALU
SAU
UAF
UAAR
UAJK
UETL
UB
UETT
US
UHSL
UVAS
Universities / Institute
Total Recommended Projects: 428
NumberofProposals

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Approved R&DProjects
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Target 80 100 100
Target Achieved 25 67 75 118 141
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

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University Industry Technology Support Program(UITSP)University Industry Technology Support Program(UITSP)
 The proposal may jointly submit by university and Industry
 P.I. must be from university and Co-P.I must be from industry
 The solution should be industrial based
 There are four domain in which proposal may be submitted
Improvement in the product
Development of new product
Improvement in the process
Development of new process
 HEC will provide 80% of total budget
 Industry must contribute 20% of the total budget

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Travel Grants to Teachers /PhDScholarsTravel Grants to Teachers /PhDScholars
Aims and Objectives
To Provide travel grant to university faculty and
Ph.D. Students:
 to present their research papers ORALLY in national
international Conferences
 to peruse Ph.D. studies
 to join post Doc. Studies
 to visit abroad under cultural exchange programs

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OrganizingOrganizing Seminars/Conferences/Workshop etc.Seminars/Conferences/Workshop etc.
Aims and Objectives
Under this scheme partial support is provided to public
sector universities and DAIs to organize Seminars,
Conferences, Workshops etc:
 to interact academically and intellectually at national
and international levels
 to share knowledge and latest research
 to get exposure of national faculty at international forum

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Strengthening of Universities and Institutions of HigherLearning in NewStrengthening of Universities and Institutions of HigherLearning in New
and Emerging Technologies (Umbrella Project)and Emerging Technologies (Umbrella Project)
The following three sub-projects are approved under this Umbrella
Project:
 Establishment of National Centre of Nanotechnology (PIEAS,
Islamabad).
 Establishment of Bio-Organic Chemistry Laboratory (university of
the Punjab).
 Establishment of Research and Development facility for exotic cut
flowers and value added products (HEJ, Karachi).

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Pak-US Joint Academic & Research ProgramPak-US Joint Academic & Research Program
(Umbrella Project)(Umbrella Project)
This program have been designed in collaboration with USAID and
MoST.
 The proposal may be submitted jointly from one Pakistani
institution and one American Institution.
 In 1st
Phase total 11 proposal have been approved under which 8
will be funded jointly by HEC and USAID and 3 will be funded
jointly by MoST and USAID.
 2nd
Phase of Pak-US Joint Academic and Research Program has
also been launched and 9 proposals have been approved.

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SeniorExpert Services (SES) fromGermanySeniorExpert Services (SES) fromGermany
The German Industry and the German Government offering a short term
advisory service in Pakistan with view to promote economic development
in the country.
 The Senior Expert Services (SES) “Honorary Service of
the German Economy for International Cooperation GmbH” is a service that
comprises of more than 6000 highly qualified and senior experts who work
on honorary basis in numerous branches of industry and education.
 The Experts from the fields of management of higher education
institutions, development of curriculum and study courses, capacity
building of faculty and administrative staff, library management, laboratory
up gradation and management, building research infrastructure and
capacity and many others.
 11 professors/experts from Germany have joined different universities /
institutions and completed their assignments.

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Training Program forTechnical /Scientific StaffTraining Program forTechnical /Scientific Staff
and Researchersand Researchers
 Objective
The program has been designed to accelerate the quantum of
research and development in universities / degree awarding
institutions through research-need and equipment based on short
term trainings that are catalytic to the technological and socio-
economic development of the country.
 Eligibility & Targets
Under this program the Scientific / Technical Staff, Researchers
and Teachers of Public Sector Universities can avail the training
grant for short term (3 months max.) local as well as foreign
trainings of their own choice but related to their field
 A total of 66 foreign trainings and 90 local trainings will be funded
within a time span of three years under this program

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Access to Scientific InstrumentationAccess to Scientific Instrumentation
Objectives
 Provide spectroscopic, analytical, chromatographic and
other services to researchers working in different public
sector universities on cost plus basis, which will be paid
by the Higher Education Commission.
 Through this program the institutions with
instrumentation facilities will get financial resources to
keep their instrument running with maximum utility.
 The scientists of Pakistan will have access to available
facilities within the country, which will promote research
collaboration and save foreign exchange, which is
otherwise, required.

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MAINTENANCE OF SCIENTIFIC
EQUIPMENTS
 Objectives:
 To assist Institutions to operationalize laboratory
instrumentation.
 Under this project, funds are provided for up-
gradation, spare parts, repair and maintenance of
laboratory equipments of universities/degree awarding
institutions.
 Faculty members/scientists working in the
universities/ Institutes concerned are invited to send
their demand to HEC on the prescribed form. A
department can submit more than one proposal.
 The proposal for an individual grant should be in range
of Rs.60,000/- to Rs. 100,0000/-.

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Presidential Young InnovatorProgram
 Objectives
 To encourage and support the early career activities of
young faculty members in public/Private sector
institutions and R&D organization
 To provide greater incentives for M. Phil degree
holders to develop careers as faculty members in
public as well as private sector institutions.
 To award and support educational development plans
that demonstrate a particular intellectual merit and
broader educational and societal benefits to the
educational enterprise in Pakistan

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University Industry Interaction
ObjectivesObjectives
 Popularization of Science in Pakistan.Popularization of Science in Pakistan.
 To educate the youth of society about the sophisticatedTo educate the youth of society about the sophisticated
sciences outcomes.sciences outcomes.
 To create general awareness among students, general public,To create general awareness among students, general public,
Legislators and industrialist about the wonders of science andLegislators and industrialist about the wonders of science and
new inventions in frontier technologies.new inventions in frontier technologies.
 To create awareness about integration of scientificTo create awareness about integration of scientific
technologies in the socio-economic development of thetechnologies in the socio-economic development of the
country.country.
 To highlight socio-economic problems in the country and theirTo highlight socio-economic problems in the country and their
possible scientific solutions.possible scientific solutions.

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PATENT
 The HEC will also provide financial support for registration of the
Patent at national and international level.

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HEC-CSF Applied Research Support Program
 Introduction.
 This program have been designed in collaboration with
Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF).
 The program will be launch in the month of February 2007.
 The P.I can submit industrial based research proposals up to $0.25
million with a ratio of 50% CSF, 30% HEC and 20% Industry.
 The proposal may be submitted in all domain related to industry.
 Co-P.I must be from industry.
 CSF will also provide technical consultancy for the execution of
project if required.

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Achievements: Excellence in Research
 Research Culture Revived
 180% increase in ISI abstracted research
publications over last three years----rate of
increase is highest in Islamic world
 220 international conferences held in Pakistan
 940 Conference Travel Grants
 Research Grants
 428 Peer Reviewed Projects
 IDB Bank Prize for Best Science Institute
in the Muslim World
 HEJ Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University

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Pakistan Research Output
2001-2006
636
788
890
1048
1257
1636
460
576 639
781
1039
1532
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Pakistan Total University Output

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Conclusion
 Higher Education in Pakistan has a new lease
on life !
 Sustainable poverty reduction
 Build Pakistan’s Human Capital
 Focus on
 Good Governance and Management
 Capacity Building
 Relevance to National Priorities
Higher Education Commission
Fuelling National Growth

51. www.hec.gov.pk
Thank you for your patience
www.hec.gov.pk