NAHE is committed to fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange to enhance the higher education landscape in Pakistan. Through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives, NAHE aims to strengthen global ties and improve the quality of education and research.
Our initiatives focus on professional development for academic leaders and faculty, promoting best practices in governance, leadership, and STEM education. By facilitating knowledge exchange and mentorship opportunities, NAHE strengthens the academic community and fosters excellence.
Through these global outreach efforts, we position Pakistani universities as active contributors to the international educational landscape, ensuring they are well-equipped to thrive in a globalized world.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗠𝗬𝗣 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗘𝗖'𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲
Islamabad, November 12, 2024: Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has launched Women Empowerment Mentoring Programme (WEMP) to facilitate women employees serving the higher education sector through dedicated mentoring enabling them to overcome challenges at the workplace.
The programme rolled out by National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), HEC under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project will offer growth opportunities to the women employees in the education sector while empowering them to achieve their goals in their personal and professional lives. It also aims to improve their communication, networking, and conflict management skills while becoming an effective leader in their respective domains.
Designated mentors with globally recognised best practices and coursework materials will offer expert mentorship and trainings to improve communications and manage work related conflicts and challenges more effectively.
WEMP, besides the accomplishments of HEC's Women Leadership Programme which has already empowered 196 women from various universities, is a promising start by NAHE to offer a complete support system for women working in the higher education sector.
Chairman Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan was chief guest of the launch ceremony, which was attended by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, Managing Director NAHE Ms. Noor Amna Malik, and notable international partners, key officials from World Bank, USAID, leadership of British Council Pakistan, Vice Chancellors, senior, management of HEC and local higher education institutions and officials from several public universities.
Addressing the ceremony, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan commended HEC and NAHE for the initiative, which aims to promote female representation, capacity building, and leadership in academia. He praised the recent appointments of female Vice Chancellors in Punjab as a positive step towards gender equity in higher education. He underlined that the Government of Pakistan is actively working to protect women's rights and promote their empowerment by measures such as having reserved quotas in educational institutions, creating centres for protection against violence, and advocating for women's inheritance rights.
Expressing his hope for the success of the programme, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said Islam advocates for gender equity in responsibilities, accountability, and rewards, underscoring that Pakistan has a legacy of prominent women figures in politics, education, judiciary, and the economy, demonstrating the nation's belief in equality. He reiterated that HEC is committed to initiatives that promote equitable participation of women in higher education through measures such as establishing sub-campuses in various regions for increased accessibility and setting aside a women's quota in scholarship programmes.
Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum reiterated that HEC, with the support of the Government of Pakistan, is committed to reducing the gender divide within the higher education sector. He highlighted that 48% of students enrolled in higher education are now female, a source of pride for HEC. He underscored that programmes like WEMP are designed to ensure equitable resources and support for career advancement in higher academia. He affirmed HEC's continued commitment to enhancing female representation and engagement in the sector.
Ms. Noor Amna Malik highlighted the programme as a strategic initiative to promote gender mainstreaming. She announced that the programme's first phase will be launched in 18 universities, where Vice Chancellors will establish WEMP committees to match mentees with trained mentors. She explained that in partnership with HEDP and with support from the World Bank, WEMP aims to foster gender equality by empowering female faculty and staff within higher education institutions.
She said the initiative focuses on mentoring female faculty and staff, providing them with opportunities to advance into leadership roles and senior positions. The mentoring process will include one-on-one sessions available in person, online, or in a hybrid format, supported by tailored toolkits and modules for participants.
World Bank representative Ms. Inga Afanasieva described the World Bank-supported WEMP as a comprehensive training initiative that has the potential to highlight the diverse perspectives and innovative contributions women bring to the higher education sector. She emphasised that the programme aims to amplify women's voices through community support and empowerment, enabling them to make a greater impact in academia.
In her remarks, CEO Human Capital Ms. Afshan Tahseen highlighted the importance of gender main streaming and providing more opportunities to women in Pakistan. Former Vice Chancellor Dr. Saima Hamid also expressed her views on the occasion
i) Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP)
While women make up a significant portion of faculty across higher education institutions in Pakistan, their representation in senior leadership roles remains limited. To address this gap, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) launched the Women Leadership Program as part of its Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project. Now, in its next phase, HEC is introducing the Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP) to continue fostering female leadership across the academic sector.
Key Achievements of the Women Leadership Program
- 161 Women Leaders Trained: Since its inception, 161 women have been trained across all four provinces of Pakistan.
- Focus Areas: The program has covered crucial areas like:
- Governance in Higher Education
- Recruitment Policies
- Work-life Balance
- Gender and Workplace Communication
- Financial Management
- Strategic Communication
Impact: Many program alumni have made remarkable career advancements, one notable achievement is that an alumna of the program has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Allah Baksh Soomro University of Arts, Design and Heritage in Jamshoro, Sindh. This is a co-education public sector university, and her success underscores the program's effectiveness in preparing women for senior leadership roles in higher education.
Introducing WEMP: A New Era of Empowerment
As the HEDP project reaches its maturity, HEC is taking the next step with WEMP—a three-month mentoring initiative aimed at further developing women leaders in Pakistan's higher education sector.
What is WEMP?
The Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program (WEMP) seeks to:
- Empower women by developing mentors who will help train the next generation of female leaders.
- Offer support to women in achieving a healthy work-life balance and leadership development.
- Create a cascading model where senior female leaders mentor emerging talent in universities across Pakistan.
Program Features
- Mentorship from Senior Leaders: Participants will be paired with experienced leaders who will guide them through challenges, help them build networks, and advocate for their professional advancement.
- Structured Mentoring Approach: The program will be launched in select universities as a pilot initiative before expanding to all higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan.
- Training Modules: Topics will include:
- Effective Communication
- Conflict Management
- Mentoring Skills
- Navigating Higher Education Challenges
Why WEMP Matters?
- Support for Aspiring Female Leaders: WEMP will play a critical role in fostering more women leaders in academia, empowering them to rise to senior leadership roles.
- Building a Network: The program will help participants connect with other female leaders, creating a community of support and knowledge-sharing.
- Long-Term Impact: WEMP's cascading mentorship model will ensure the program's impact is sustainable and reaches future generations of women in academia.
A Look at the Progress So Far
- Committee Formation: In June 2024, HEC established the WEMP Committee, which has already held 7 successful meetings to finalize the program's framework.
- Consultative Sessions: The most recent consultative session, chaired by Ms. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE, was a critical step in finalizing the program's structure.
What's Next?
- Pilot Launch: The mentorship program will begin with a three-month pilot phase in selected universities. Upon success, it will be rolled out across all HEIs through a policy intervention by HEC, aiming to institutionalize the program in the long term.
- Future Vision: HEC plans to sustain WEMP through its policy-making efforts and continue empowering women leaders in higher education across Pakistan.
Join the Movement: A Step Towards National Development
By increasing the representation of women in leadership roles in academia, HEC hopes to contribute to national development and ensure that women—who represent almost 50% of Pakistan's population—have the opportunity to shape the future of higher education in Pakistan.