Islamabad: The National Academy of Higher Education, under the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, has initiated a three-day workshop titled ‘Strategic Planning and Leadership Excellence’ aimed at enhancing the leadership capabilities of senior university officials. This event seeks to address the complex challenges faced by higher education institutions in areas such as governance, financial management, and academic administration.
According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the workshop is taking place at the National Institute of Business and Finance and involves participation from Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors, senior Deans, and statutory heads from public sector universities in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as women’s universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Rawalpindi region. The program focuses on strategic planning, institutional sustainability, resource mobilization, and digital transformation in the realm of artificial intelligence and innovation in higher education.
The opening ceremony featured the Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. Wajiha Qamar, as the Chief Guest. Ms. Qamar emphasized the critical role of university leaders in advancing higher education and fostering sustainable institutional development. She highlighted the importance of universities in developing the skills and technologies needed for national progress, stressing the need for stronger ties between academia and industry to improve employment opportunities.
During her remarks, Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE, underscored the workshop’s goal of engaging university leaders with experts to tackle pressing issues in higher education. She noted the diverse representation from multiple universities and called for collective efforts to overcome institutional challenges, emphasizing collaboration and active participation.
Participants engaged in discussions with the Minister of State, highlighting the need for increased collaboration, resource sharing, and legislative reforms to enhance university autonomy and financial sustainability. The workshop includes sessions on various aspects of higher education management and features senior officials and experts as speakers. This initiative aligns with HEC’s ongoing efforts to bolster leadership in the higher education sector and support institutional growth across Pakistan.