| Climate Action: Education Roundtable Focusses on Need for Universities to Play a Bigger Role | Climate Action: Education Roundtable Focusses on Need for Universities to Play a Bigger Role | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, October 6, 2021: The British Council together with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan on Wednesday hosted a roundtable entitled "Education for climate action: How universities can steer the climate crisis."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The higher education sector is enabling the world to understand the impact of climate change on the environment. However, there is still a long way to go before policy and citizen action catch up with the scientific evidence of what is happening to the world's climate. As the country that is fifth most affected by climate change, there is a need in Pakistan to identify gaps, opportunities, and pave developmental pathways and thought leadership towards building a greener Pakistan. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">With COP26 (UN Climate Change Conference) taking place in the UK later this year, the Education for Climate Action roundtable aims to bring together stakeholders, academics, civil society, and development changemakers from Pakistan and the UK to a platform together to discuss where we are, what more needs to be done and what we can learn from each other. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Mr. Shafqat Mehmood, Development Director British High Commission Pakistan Ms. Annabel Gerry, and British Council Country Director Pakistan Amir Ramzan spoke in the opening session. Other speakers included policymakers, Government officials, higher education leaders from Pakistan and UK, vice chancellors, researchers and academics, international development organisations, research partnership grantees, UK alumni, and students. The event was hybrid with attendees joining both online and offline </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Shafqat Mehmood said, "Climate situation calls for up-close attention and immediate action and I am glad that international organizations like the British Council are initiating and actively pursuing ways to engage the youth and policy makers on shared platforms to give the cause the push it rightfully deserves through Roundtables as such this in Pakistan." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Dr. Shaista Sohail, Executive Director HEC, speaking on a panel about roles and responsibilities in building a sustainable future said, "Universities have to take the charge of informing policy and practice. 261 Pakistani scholars have been funded to pursue higher education in environmental themes. Universities can give focussed, well informed and well researched information on issues that are causing climate change such as manufacturing of bricks or burning of crops." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Mr. Amir Ramzan, Country Director British Pakistan said, "I am hopeful that the conversations taking place here will help us learn from each other, and together we can find a path to mainstream sustainable practices in Higher Education in Pakistan. I am also positive that this seminar will contribute to the national environmental discourse in Higher Education and HEC's strategy on taking charge of our sustainable future through academic leadership."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">To prioritise climate action and achieve real results in Pakistan, there is need to learn from and strengthen links with the UK sector. The UK is at the forefront of climate change research and climate action. It is home to three of the top three universities for Environmental Science (University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The British Council is working with partners worldwide to support the success and legacy of COP26 by creating opportunities for cooperation, dialogue and action in arts, education and science that address the shared challenges of climate change.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">One of these efforts is supporting research links between Pakistan and UK under the HEC-British Council managed Pak-UK Education Gateway. Under these links we have researchers like Sofia Akbar Tahir at the Government College University, Faisalabad experimenting clean and efficient ways of energy generation and distribution with the support of research teams at the University of Oxford. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">==============</p> | 07-10-2021 04:54:58 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/Climate-Action.aspx |
| HEC to Enhance Sports Facilities in Universities under Kamyab Jawan Programme | HEC to Enhance Sports Facilities in Universities under Kamyab Jawan Programme | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, October 2, 2021: The first Steering Committee of the project entitled, "Kamyab Jawan Sports Academies (High-Performance Sports Academies and Resource Centres) National Youth Games" was held at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Secretariat. It was chaired by the Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">During the meeting, the Executive Director HEC briefed the participants on the projects planned under the umbrella of Kamyab Jawan programme. She underlined that the project is aimed to develop facilities and infrastructure of Sports Academies, including a separate lecture/meeting hall and hostel/dormitory facility for at least 50 to 60 players and six members of the coaching/support staff. These facilities, she added, will into full-time modern training and resource centres. She emphasised that the long-term objective is to develop HEC's team to compete at national and international competitions. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Dr. Shaista Sohail said that the project will produce professional players in particular sports and help initiate youth sports movement and develop a sports culture. The sports academies to be established in the higher education institutions across the county will provide scientific support and modern skills to players for developing sports in Pakistan, simultaneously promoting sound health, safety, and physical fitness. She informed the meeting that the capital cost of the project was Rs. 1,937.429 million with FEC Rs. 103.851 million, while the execution period of the scheme is 36 months. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">She said that the Sports Academies will provide opportunities for youth to get involved in physical activities as a participant and as a professional player, coaches, leaders, and volunteer. She maintained that the academies will provide cutting-edge expertise to champion players to further improve their skills scientifically. She asserted that the Sports Academies will play a key role in player development considering fitness, psychological and biomechanical parameters, including coaching and training. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The meeting participants deliberated a project implementation strategy and reflected upon development of Governance & Business Model for Sports Academies. The Committee endorsed the meeting agenda item pertaining to holding an International Conference on Sports Tourism by Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan in June 2022. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">It is pertinent to mention here that the HEC and higher education institutions, where the Sports Academies are to be established, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the Academies. HEC expects the higher education institutions to designate a proper land for the establishment of Sports Academies, develop robust governance and business plan for the self-sustainable model, and create the sports fund designated for sports activities. The universities will also be expected to carry out proper marketing by formulating branding strategies for revenue generation. The designated HEIs will hire/allocate professional human resources for management to run the sports academies.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Another important segment of the project is the National Youth Games with Youth Rally. In this regard, organizing sub-committees will be constituted to be responsible for all operational matters of games for the timely and orderly arrangement of all events in the region. This sub-committee will recommend any administrative/financial/technical/Operational matter to Steering Committee for consideration and decision. They will ensure that all participating universities may keep informed about all necessary technical and other arrangements. They will be responsible for the financial disbursement and subsequently reconcile the allocated budget for Audit and Accounts, with overall responsibility for organising, managing, and concluding the games. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The meeting was attended in person or through video link by Vice Chancellors of different universities, including Vice President International Islamic University, Islamabad; Vice Chancellor, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan; Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab, Lahore; Vice Chancellor, Bahauddin Zakriya University, Multan; Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi, Karachi; Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam; Vice Chancellor, Karakoram International University, Gilgit Baltistan; Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; Vice Chancellor, BUITEMS, Quetta; Vice Chancellor, NED UET, Karachi; Vice Chancellor, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, Karachi; and Vice Chancellor, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore; Representative of University of Peshawar; alongside Mr. Shahid Islam Dy. Director General, Pakistan Sports Board, a representative from planning, Development & Special Initiative (S&T), and a representative from KJ Youth Development Programme along with various Director Sports of the Universities of Pakistan. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">From HEC, Advisor A&C HEC Mr. Awais Ahmed, In-charge Director Sports & Co-Curricular Division, HEC Javed Ali Memon, and Director Monitoring & Evaluation, HEC, Mr. Naveed Shah, a representative of HEC Planning and Development Division and other HEC Officers attended the meeting. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">==============</p> | 04-10-2021 06:45:46 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/Enhance-Sports-Facilities.aspx |
| HEC has no association with Higher Education City | HEC has no association with Higher Education City | <p style="text-align:justify;">Islamabad, September 30, 2021: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan categorically denies any association of HEC with the so-called housing project named as 'Higher Education City'. Therefore, the impression that this is an HEC's housing project is entirely incorrect. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Launching or operating of such housing scheme has never been approved by HEC authorities or taken up with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for registration. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Marketing and advertising of this housing project with the association of HEC or any member / employee of HEC is not authorized. HEC has nothing to do with any Agreement, if ever signed between some individuals with HEC employees, nor does it owe legal, financial or any other liabilities.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">As Higher Education Commission (HEC) has no association with the 'Higher Education City', therefore the general public, investors, builders etc. are cautioned that bookings, purchases and investments in this housing project will purely be at their own risk, and HEC owes no liability. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">==============</p> | 02-10-2021 16:38:42 | <img alt="" src="/english/PublishingImages/ThematicImages/HEC%20ICON-15.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/news/Pages/HEC-City.aspx |