Islamabad, Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal met with a UK delegation led by Steve Smith, the UK Government’s International Education Champion, to discuss strengthening ties between educational institutions in both countries. The meeting, which included officials from the British High Commission and the British Council Pakistan, focused on initiatives to foster innovation and quality assurance in higher education.
According to Press Information Department, Minister Iqbal outlined key recommendations for collaboration, including faculty training programs to improve academic expertise, encouraging UK universities to establish campuses in Pakistan, and leveraging the expertise of Pakistani scholars in UK universities to create specialized knowledge clusters on Pakistan. The discussion also emphasized the importance of joint research initiatives and collaboration between PhD scholars from both countries.
“Pakistan envisions a future where universities in Pakistan are categorized into the Champions League (first-tier universities) and the National League (second-tier universities), driving excellence and accessibility in higher education,” said Minister Iqbal.
Steve Smith reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to fostering international partnerships in education, citing the presence of over 20,000 Pakistani students in the UK and 8,000 students pursuing degree programs in Pakistan supported by the British government. The UK’s support for educational initiatives in Pakistan extends to the development of a quality assurance model, with the launch of the Revamped Quality Assurance (QA) Framework for Higher Education in Pakistan in 2023.
The QA Framework, developed in collaboration with British experts, represents a paradigm shift in assessing, maintaining, and enhancing higher education quality in Pakistan. It aligns with global best practices while addressing the unique needs of the Pakistani education landscape. Minister Iqbal noted that the framework enhances the recognition and reputation of Pakistani institutions on the global stage.
The meeting also addressed regulatory challenges, with both sides emphasizing the need for streamlined regulations to minimize hurdles for universities and strengthen the link between research institutions and economic growth. The discussion concluded with a shared commitment to further dialogue and concrete action to implement the outlined recommendations, reinforcing the foundation for enduring academic cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.