HEC via its HEDP project working closely with Higher Education Department of Punjab Government to build the capacity of teachers at Affiliated Colleges (#AC). The ACs across provinces are primarily offering undergraduate degrees but have limited capacities/resources and need support. HEDP project has already signed a MoU with them and has recently conducted a consultative seminar to formalize the policy. It is hoped that this development will facilitate the adaptation of the revised #UEP and improve the quality of programs offered by the ACs across #Punjab.  See More 
MoU signing ceremony and one-day consultative seminar on ‘College Faculty Professional Development Policy Dialogue" among HEC and Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab. ___________________________________________________________ HEDP INNOVATOR SEED FUNDS AWARD CEREMONY PHASE-2(2023) ISF, an initiative under Higher education development in Pakistan Program (HEDP) provides a package of support and seed funding to early-stage startups through HEC-recognized business Incubation (BICs) at Universities. HEC received 205 concept notes this year after the advertisement of ISF Call 2022-23 in January this year, out of which, 144 startups submitted their full business proposals. Finally, 65 startups were shortlisted for the pitching competition after passing them through different phases of scrutiny and evaluations. These startups competed in the areas of Agriculture, Food Resources and Agri-Tech, E-Commerce and Smart Retail, Education and EdTech, emerging Technologies, Health care and health Tech, Housing Construction and Manufacturing, Sustainable development, Climate and Energy, and Transportation & Logistics.
Two-day startup pitching competition under the Innovator Seed Fund (ISF) program kicked off at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad from August 29 to 30, 2023. Collectively 65 startups pitched their innovative business ideas in the two-day event in front of jury which comprised a variety of entrepreneurs/industry and business experts. Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed graced the occasion chief guest at the opening ceremony. Firms/ideas shortlisted after the tough pitching competition were then awarded ISF Grants in the grand ceremony held on September 1st, 2023 at the Pak-China Friendship Center to announce the winners. The winning startup teams were from different Public sector Universities across Pakistan. The chief guest of the event was distinguished business and industry expert, Mr. Sohail P. Ahmad, who has served in several notable positions in significant companies. Country Operation Manager World Bank Pakistan Mr. Gailius Draugelis, Senior Economist World Bank Ms. Inga Afanasieva, and Vice Chancellors of various public sector universities also graced the event with their presence. Last year 15 startups were awarded ISF Grants whereas this year the number of grants has doubled, seeing the enthusiasm of the participating startups as well as the due to less remaining duration of the project. The 28 winners received ISF grants of up to Rs. 10 million each for their upscaling of their Innovative Business ideas. This year's winner list is available at https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/RnD/ISF/Pages/ISF-Winners-23.aspx
Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed addressing the Opening Cermeny ISF Phase-2 Pitching Competition
 
 
Startups holding the stalls and displaying their business ideas at Pak-China center during The Award Ceremony
 
 
 
 
Ms. Noor Amna Malik (MD NAHE) presenting souvenir to Cheif Guest and Jury members during Award Ceremony. Group Photo of Winning Startups holding their Cheques at Pak-China Center
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HEDP FINALIZES METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING LEARNING OUTCOMES AROUND UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION POLICY
Higher Education Commission (HEC) has developed the Undergraduate Education Policy (UEP) 2020, which provides the framework for enhancing the quality of new programmes leading to Bachelor of Studies (BS) degrees and Associate Degree (AD) in Affiliated Colleges and Universities, which is now being implemented. The revised four and two-years degrees are common in the private sector and even large public sector universities but implementing in all public Higher Education institutions (HEIs) and Affiliated Colleges (ACs) across the country is a daunting task. This is where the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project is assisting HEC.(See More)
Dr. Mahmood ul Hasan Butt (Project Coordinator HEDP-HEC) and Ms. Noor Amna Malik (Manageing Director NAHE) presenting souvenir to Dr. Salvodor Malo (World Bank Expert on Assessment)
______________________________________________________________________ HEDP conducts capacity-building workshops on Framework for Financial Autonomy for Public Sector Universities - encourages HEIs toward Financial Autonomy
Higher Education Commission (HEC) under Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project conducted three-day extensive capacity-building sessions for public sector universities on financial autonomy for around 18 Registrars and allied staff. Senior finance officials including treasurers and registrars of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from Punjab, Sindh, AJ&K and KP attended the training held at the Kohsar University (KU), Murree. The thematic areas of the training included the features of the framework for financial autonomy, better financial management, improvement in the governance of public sector universities, and implementation of the framework. HEDP has already conducted six such capacity-building sessions across the country in which more than 150 participants have been trained. (See More)
Group Photo of HEDP Staff with Dr. Salvodor Malo (World Bank Expert on Assessment)
_____________________________________________________________________ HEC Kicks off the First-ever Batch of the Women Leadership Program for the Balochistan Province
HEC Pakistan via its Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project concluded the 6th cohort of Women Leadership Programme. National Academy of Higher Education organised the first-ever cohort of female future academic leaders for Balochistan at BUITEMS, Quetta.
Thirty future female leaders from all public sector universities across the Balochistan province attended the training. Women from all disciplines – medical, engineering, humanities, and others participated. Most of these are mid-career professionals working as Heads of Departments, Registrars, and senior faculty members.
The project has already trained more than 120 women in 5 earlier cohorts of trainings in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar.
The programme focuses on governance in higher education, recruitment policies, managing work-life balance, gender and workplace communication, public procurement rules, financial management and strategic communication. It also provides personal and professional development opportunities and exposes participants to international best practices in women's leadership. (See More)
______________________________________________________________________ HEC Conducts 2nd Batch of Capacity Building Training for Teachers in Affiliated Colleges in Punjab
HEC conducted three-day extensive faculty capacity building workshop at the University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore for more than 91 participants (60% women) on May 3-5, 2023 under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project for faculty of 50 Affiliated Colleges (ACs) of Lahore. Teachers from Lahore, Shahdara, Kasur, Pattoki, Phool Nagar, Chunian, Kot Rada Kishen, Mustafaabad, Kanganpur, Khudian Khas, Changa Manga, Muridke, Nankana Sahib, Narang Mandi, Shahkot, Sangla Hill, Bucheki and Sheikhupura participated. Aimed at improvement of quality of education in affiliated colleges, the project has trained more than 2800 faculty members so far nationwide. The HEDP project is focused on supporting the tertiary education system composed of ACs in Pakistan. (See More)
_____________________________________________________________________ HEDP team manages to be on the front face of HEC's official quarterly magazine. HEDP team once again manages to be on the front face of HEC's official quarterly magazine. Component 1 story of our project makes it to the cover page and we have more than 4 stories here and there in the HEC official News and Views Magazine. (See More) ______________________________________________________________________ HEC KICKS OFF TEACHERS CAPACITY BUILDING IN PUNJAB AFFILIATED COLLEGES
Islamabad, March 30, 2023: Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has launched a capacity building training programme for faculty of nine divisions of the Punjab in collaboration with Higher Education Department, Punjab under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project. (See More)
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HEDP 6TH STEERING COMMITTEE REVIEWS PROGRESS PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF RS. 1.6 BILLION FOR UNIVERSITIES OF KP, BALOCHISTAN AND SINDH FOR FLOOD-RELATED REHABILITATION
Islamabad, December 29, 2022: HEC's Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project held its sixth Steering Committee meeting at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Secretariat, Islamabad. Steering Committee is the highest forum of the project comprising senior officials from federal ministries, provincial higher education departments, vice-chancellors, and private sector representatives. HEDP is a five-year national project (2019/20 – 2023/24) implemented by HEC to expand upon its key higher education priorities. The committee members reviewed the progress made so far on the project. (See More)
_____________________________________________________________________ Universities Commit Contributing towards the First-ever National MOOCs Platform “PakistanEdX" HEC’s Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project hosted 3rd meeting of a consortium of 11 universities at AIOU Islamabad to develop high-quality asynchronous online courses.(See More)
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HEC HOLDS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME FOR EMERGING WOMEN LEADERS Islamabad, November 22, 2022: The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), an academic wing of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), conducted a five-day programme titled, Capacity Building of Emerging Women Leaders, for the female faculty and administration of the higher education institutions (HEIs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The programme was held at the University of Peshawar. (See More) ______________________________________________________________________
The World Bank reviewed Environmental performance in the mid-term review in the month of Feb 2023.
During the period, the project remained compliant with Environmental and Safety (E&S) requirements as per Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). E&S screenings of 10 ISF subprojects were completed. The World Bank reviewed Environmental performance in the mid-term review in the month of Feb 2023. The Environmental performance of the project was rated as satisfactory. The PCU has taken steps to complete World Bank’s recommendations in Aide Memoir. Prompt actions have been taken on all the recommendations and status has been shared with the World Bank. Besides this, the PCU is focused on taking strategic measures to improve Environment & Safety performance in Pakistani universities. In this regard, the PCU has decided to develop and implement Environment & Safety Management System Framework for Pakistani universities, which will be applicable to all the universities in the country beyond the project’s life. There is a special focus on training and capacity building of Principal Investigators (PIs) with respect to project E&S requirements and trainings were accordingly conducted for PIs and teams. Moreover, PCU has designed a special training module on Sustainability focused on Higher Education sector. The training module will be made part of all the trainings under NAHE and PERU. The Environmental Compliance Report for the period has been released and approved by the World Bank.
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