A two-day session of the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was attended by over 57 Higher Education Ministers of the Muslim world to discuss and approve the guide for assessment and quality enhancement of universities in the Islamic World.
Pakistan was represented by a three-member delegation headed by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairperson Dr Javaid R Laghari.
Pakistan had played a significant role in the preparation of the guiding document and in his address to the meeting Dr Laghari elaborated that the HEC had the experience of working on key performance indicators (KPIs) and had developed and implemented a quality assurance system through their Quality Enhancement Cells in the last two years at all its universities.
He said it had established Accreditation Councils and developed a Ranking Model which was being implemented starting this year, and offered to play a lead role contributing to the capacity building of other Islamic countries on a need basis through the adoption of these KPIs. Dr Laghari was elected as Member of the Executive Council of the Conference and appointed Rapporteur.
On the second day of the meeting, Dr Laghari, who was one of the three key speakers at the Round Table on Strengthening Linkages in Higher Education Sector for Quality Assurance, spoke about harnessing the fruit of innovation in the Muslim World. He said quality and relevant research contributed to the economic development of many emerging economies. He informed that socio-economic transformation was taking place at the HEC, as it moved from its traditional role of higher education and research to innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Chairperson articulated the strategic maneuvers being carried out in Pakistan, including excellence in higher education, technology readiness, focus on research and innovation, a spirit of entrepreneurship, a global perspective, and socio-economic impact. The HEC initiatives for scientific innovation were described as a role model for other Muslim countries to emulate.