The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is committed to promoting female education and special attention is being paid to strengthen women universities with special emphasis for the newly established universities which need capacity building and support of the HEC.
It was stated by Dr Javaid R Laghari, chairman HEC, while visiting and presiding over a meeting at Government College Women University Sialkot, the first Women University of the region.
He said that women’s universities are playing a vital role in the education of female professionals, artists, writers, thinkers who are the future leaders of an educated, enlightened, ethical and prosperous Pakistan.
“Since the inception of HEC, new women’s universities have been established in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Multan and priority has been given to such development projects which have been really helpful in increasing women’s enrollment in higher education sector of Pakistan,” he remarked.
Dr Laghari also said that as outcome of the HEC reforms, women enrollment in higher education has increased from 36 percent to 47 percent within last few years.
The female researchers/faculty members are being encouraged to avail HEC programs such as on scholarships, research and travel grants and holding of conferences. He assured utmost cooperation of HEC to provide every sort of possible support to the administration of the university.
Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin, vice chancellor (VC) University of Gujrat/additional charge VC Govt College Women University, Sialkot was also present.
During the meeting it was decided that the HEC would assist in interim placement of faculty, provision of digital library, PERN-II and videoconferencing facility and capacity building of faculty while the university administration would ensure implementation of quality assurance criteria so that quality education may be provided to the students of the university.
The university administration and faculty members appreciated the contribution and efforts of HEC to promote female education in Pakistan and extended thanks to chairman HEC for his visit.
