Islamabad, In a pivotal meeting in Islamabad, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and UK Government’s International Education Champion Steve Smith discussed strengthening the educational bond between Pakistan and the United Kingdom through the Pakistan-UK Knowledge Corridor initiative.
According to Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, the meeting focused on collaborative measures to enhance the quality and accessibility of higher education in Pakistan. Minister Iqbal proposed several initiatives, including faculty training programs, the establishment of UK university campuses in Pakistan, and the creation of specialized knowledge clusters leveraging Pakistani scholars in the UK. These efforts aim to elevate Pakistani universities to global standards, categorizing them into ‘Champions League’ for first-tier and ‘National League’ for second-tier institutions.
Steve Smith reiterated the UK’s commitment to fostering educational partnerships, highlighting the presence of thousands of Pakistani students in the UK and those in Pakistan benefiting from British educational programs. The discussions also covered the substantial role of the British Council Pakistan in the Revamped Quality Assurance (QA) Framework for Higher Education in Pakistan, launched in 2023. This framework, developed in collaboration with British experts, aligns Pakistani higher education more closely with international best practices and aims to enhance the global reputation of Pakistani institutions.
Minister Iqbal emphasized the transformative power of these collaborations in addressing regulatory challenges and linking educational achievements directly to economic growth. He noted significant progress made during his previous tenure with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to implement a quality assurance model that led to a comprehensive performance audit across Pakistani universities.
The meeting concluded with a strong affirmation from both sides to continue their dialogue and implement the strategies discussed, ensuring sustained improvement and innovation in the higher education sectors of both countries.