Higher Education

Chapter 5

Higher Education

The Framework for Economic Growth recognizes knowledge as an important element in sustainable economic growth. Universities and other Higher Education Institutions, being the engine of knowledge creation, have to come forward for development of entrepreneurship with scientists, engineers and students as stakeholders. Keeping in view this new role of universities, New Growth Strategy lays emphasis on the development of Business Incubation Centers and setting up of Technology Parks in the universities and promoting linkage of Higher Education Institutes and R&D organizations with industry (Triple Helix Model). 5.1 5.1.1 Review of 2011-12 Financial

In the year 2011-12, an amount of Rs 16.5 billion was allocated for higher education, which was reduced to Rs 14 billion due to financial crunch. Against this, Rs 9.8 billion is expected to be utilized by end of the current financial year. (Table 5.1) Table 5.1: Higher Education PSDP Allocation and Utilization 2011-12 & 2012-13 (Rs Million)
Services Provision of Infrastructure for higher education Human Resource Development Research Equipment Others (Salaries, Furniture/Fixture, Books/Journals, Transport, Chemical/ Glasswares etc.) Total 2011-12 Allocation Utilization Revised 4397 3066 6240 2003 1360 14000 4351 1397 949 9763 15,800 15,800 2012-13 Allocation

5.1.2

Physical Achievement Infrastructure Development: In the Year 2011-12, new universities and subcampuses of the existing universities were established in remote and far-flung areas of the country. These include the University at Turbat, University at Loralai, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University at Sheringal, Women University Multan and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Benazirabad and sub campus of Lahore College for Women University at Jhang. Human Resource Development: In the year 2011-12, HRD is an area in which vital and significant progress has been made with a dual objective of increasing institutional capacity and enhancing local research activities. The major thrust of programs in this area has been to improve academic qualifications of university faculty through provision of scholarships at local as well as foreign universities. These scholarships are provided on merit both to existing university faculty as well as other individuals from the private sector. Nearly 44% of the scholarships managed by the HEC have been awarded to
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the scientists of R&D organizations and university teachers. A total of about 900 to 1000 scholars have already returned after completing their studies while nearly 3000 scholars are pursuing their higher education abroad. 4700 scholars are studying under the indigenous scholarship programs in different universities in Pakistan. 912 scholars are studying in Cuba for MBBS Program under a scholarship program offered by Cuban Government. 52 scholars processed abroad for Post-Doc studies while 47 completed the Post-Doc studies. 1959 scholars are studying under the Fata/Balochistan project in Pakistan at Graduate/Under-graduate level. Need Based Scholarships: Financial aid to needy students is required to be institutionalized and strengthened in public and private sector universities. 2919 scholars have passed out so far, and 526 are still studying in different institutions, universities under the need based scholarship programs. Faculty Development: Faculty is the nucleus of an education system, therefore it is highly imperative to improve and enhance the quality of professional teachers. During the year 2010-11, various faculty members were given professional development. English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR) is the first language based project which caters to the English teaching faculty of graduate and post graduate colleges along with universities in their respective HEIs across Pakistan. The ELTR project transferred funding of 1.5 million to the University of Malakand for the establishment of Self Access Centre (SAC). An international resource person visited Pakistan and conducted courses on Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) at Islamabad, Multan and Karachi, training 60 participants. A total of 255 ELT faculty members have been trained in Continuous Professional Development program, in which 96 have been trained in one month courses, 99 have been trained in one week courses and 60 have been Internationally Certified through International Resource Persons trainings. 25 ELT faculty members were awarded ELTR Long Term Fellowships. Professional Competency Enhancement Program for Teachers (PCEPT): In the year 2011-12, 497 faculty members were provided one month intensive in-service Professional Competency Enhancement Program for Teachers (PCEPT) trainings at the door step of 17 public sector universities across Pakistan under the project National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Phase-II. The trainings were based on the seven core modules required for teaching skills enhancement of the university faculty. Moreover 20 faculty members were given orientation on the use of modern ICT tools and techniques through a two week Incorporating Technology in Education (ITE) Program of NAHE project. Supporting University Research: Research suggests that public policy plays an important role in shaping national innovative capacity by determining human capital investments and creating incentives for innovation. The capacity of higher education institutions has been enhanced to carry out cutting-edge research in all areas of Science and Engineering, Natural and Basic Sciences, Medical Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, Economics and Finance.

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Higher Education

Research is a mandatory precondition for acquiring new knowledge and fostering better understanding. National Video Conferencing Network: By supporting the mandate of HEC to develop e-Academia, video conference network has been established at seventy nine (79) universities/ institutes and HEC offices, whereas the footprints now spread over 30 cities across the country. The HEC Video Conference Network has been recognized as a huge IP Based Video Conference Network in Asia. Since its establishment in 2006, a total of 4593 events have been arranged to facilitate more than 40,778 students/ faculty/ scholars and supported higher studies through this virtual educational network. A full fledge interactive distance learning program with the title of Virtual Education Program of Pakistan is launched in 2010 that provides a virtual platform through which eminent professors/scholars both foreign and local are invited to deliver domain specific series lectures towards partial fulfillment of MS and PhD programs. VEPP is a program initiated by HEC in collaboration with International Center of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi. In one year 303 lectures (101 by foreign speakers and 202 by local speakers) were delivered in 10 universities of Pakistan. The program is committed to deliver 100+ lectures by the end of this financial year. This new multi-modal facility is also creating new jobs across the country. Currently 180 fully trained coordinators are engaged with this multimedia communication network which are working in all public sector universities and facilitating their faculty/students aggressively. 5.2 5.2.1 Outlook for 2012-13 Financial

An amount of Rs 15.8 billion has been allocated in PSDP 2012-13 for the projects of higher education. (Table 5.1) 5.2.2 Physical

HEC will continue with most of the ongoing projects. However, some new activities to be undertaken under these projects are highlighted in the following paragraphs. Major physical targets of higher education for 2012-13 are presented in Box 5.1. Physical Infrastructure During 2012-13, new universities and sub-campuses of the existing universities will be established to expand the access to education, especially in the remote and less developed areas. The new universities would be established at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, University of Gujrat, National Textile University Faisalabad, University at Swat, National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan Institute of Fashion & Design Lahore and Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women Nawabshah (Shaheed Benazirabad). Similarly, new campuses of public sector universities are planned Skardu Campus, Karakuram International University Gilgit, Jhang Campus, Lahore College for Women University, Pattoki Okara Campus, UVAS Lahore, Virtual University, Islamabad Campus, Federal Urdu University Karachi, Kohat Campus of UET Peshawar & Mardan Campus of UET Peshawar.
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Human Resource Development Selection of 1000 scholars of Batch-I under Indigenous PhD program Phase-II, 900 scholars under overseas scholarship will be completed. Disbursement of scholarships to 2900 scholars under overseas scholarship scheme and 5600 including new selected scholars under the indigenous scheme would be made on provincial quota basis. Scholarship will be given to 1959 scholars studying in FATA/Balochistan project in Pakistan and 10 scholars will proceed abroad for Ph.D studies.

Need Based Scholarships The stipend and fee will be paid to 526 scholars already studying and 2500 scholarships are proposed along with 1500 short term trainings during second phase. Establishment of 50-55 students facilitation and job centers is also a salient feature of the program. Faculty Development Program 10 workshops will be organized to train 300 ELT faculty of public sector universities. 5 one month courses will be organized to train 100 faculty members. 75 Long Term Fellowships will be awarded to cover the backlog of previous years. Funding of Rs 1.5 million will be transferred to each of the two selected universities i.e SBKWU Quetta and MUET, Jamshoro for establishment of Self Access Centers (SAC). Two International Resource Person trainings, 3 international conferences and one NCE meeting are also planned. Funds will be transferred to 2 Research Journals. 500 faculty members are targeted to be trained under the one month basic teaching competencies enhancement course PCEPT, and 25 faculty members are targeted to be trained in ICT usage through the ITE program to be offered at the doorstep of universities under the Project NAHE, Phase-II.

Measures for Quality Education HEC is planning to establish new Quality Enhancement Cells in 40 Public and Private Sector University all over the country.

Box 5.1: Major Targets Higher Education 2012-13 Establishment of Medical University at Larkana, Medical University at Nawabshah and University at Swat. The new initiative includes 600 Master Leading to PhD Scholarships under Aghaz-eHaqooq-e-Balochistan Package, 2,500 Need Based Undergraduate & Graduate Japanes scholarships & 5,000 Indigenous Ph.D Scholarships are proposed. Technology park, innovation research centers and ORIC are to be established to generate the employment opportunities for the skilled manpower. HEC to establish the Quality Assurance Cells in 40 newly established and private universities. Provide development fund to the extent possible to seven newly established sub campuses in the deprived areas 800 Teachers will be trained through Training Programs including long-term fellowships, one month duration training courses and short term courses.

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