Universities can play a leading role in stimulating social and economic growth and contributing to new innovations in science and technology. Going beyond their core mission of teaching and research, universities can collaborate with businesses and civil society to create knowledge exchange initiatives.
By opening communication and facilitating an exchange of ideas between different communities and institutions, knowledge exchange allows research to influence policy formulation and for academics to share ideas with business and government.
The HEC envisions a knowledge exchange initiative that involves a wide range of exchange mechanisms linking academics from all disciplines. Through this process, the HEC is attempting to create a free flow of knowledge across and within different sectors.
The knowledge exchange initiative involves the formulation of the first strategic plan of knowledge exchange for higher education, training for knowledge exchange teams, and for office of research and innovation. Additionally, it allows the HEC to tie university funding to achievements in the field of community, society and business interactions.
Collaboration with British Council on Knowledge Exchange
The Higher Education Commission and the British Council have agreed to work for the promotion of knowledge Exchange. Through this collaboration, various activities will be initiated with the higher education institutions including:
- KE National Strategy Development Support
The aim is to support HEC to develop a national strategy and five years strategic plan on higher education sector knowledge exchange (KE) Programme.
- Leadership Grants
The Developing Institutional Strategy for Knowledge Exchange (DISKE) grants will embed the concept of KEx at the institutional level. The British Council and HEC will work with leaders (including the Vice Chancellor, Dean, Registrars and Head of Departments) in Pakistan Higher Education institution to develop KEx strategies in collaboration with their UK partner institutions and implement the strategy in their respective institutions.
- ORIC Staff Training
Development of a training program, initially through NUST, in partnership with a UK institution, leading to national roll-out through HEC. Details of partnership to be refined as part of a tender exercise.
- HEC Research Links
Create a network of the UK and Pakistani partner institutions that specialize in a specific academic/industry sector. This network of Universities will showcase successful collaboration on knowledge exchange between universities and the business or social sector.
