Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the Aga Khan University (AKU) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the IGNIT3 online nutrition courses on the Learning Management System of HEC’s National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE). This initiative aims to bolster the expertise of university faculty in nutrition and nursing disciplines across the nation.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the agreement was formalized by Dr. Salim Virani, Professor and Vice Provost Research at AKU, and Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE. The collaboration includes the provision of seven SCORM-compliant nutrition courses by AKU, addressing areas such as foundational nutrition concepts, malnutrition management, and issues related to climate change and gender. These courses are intended for a range of academic positions including Lecturers, Professors, and Directors.

During the signing, Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman of HEC, commended the AKU team for their collaboration and expressed a desire for further partnerships on strategic initiatives. He also highlighted the importance of integrating such content into academic curriculums.

Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq, Executive Director of HEC, acknowledged the contributions of AKU and emphasized the need to raise public awareness on nutrition issues. He noted that these courses could potentially be offered to university students in the future.

Dr. Noor Amna Malik remarked that the partnership underscores HEC’s dedication to advancing faculty development through digital learning and strategic collaborations with distinguished institutions. Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Distinguished National Professor, expressed gratitude to all parties involved and hoped the IGNIT3 courses would enhance nutrition knowledge in Pakistan.

The partnership is part of HEC’s ongoing efforts through NAHE to expand professional development opportunities for university faculty, aligning academic capacity building with national health priorities. The MoU is set to remain effective until March 31, 2029.