President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday emphasised the need for developing a strong relationship between higher education and economic development, urging quality assurance of the research being made in national universities and degree awarding institutes.
The president said this during a meeting with the second group of heads of leading universities and degree awarding institutes of the country at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The heads of universities who called on the president included International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) Rector Dr Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai, Virtual University Lahore Rector Professor Dr Naveed Akhtar Malik, NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan Vice Chancellor Dr Malik Akhtar Kalru, acting Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Eatzaz Ahmad and International Islamic University Islamabad President Prof Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh.
Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed was also present during the meeting.
Highlighting the importance of higher education, the president said that education was the lifeline for the country and in present digital world, higher education held a key to the socio-economic development of the country. He emphasized the need for the universities to pay greater attention to devise educational and research programs relevant to the present and future development needs of the country.
Mamnoon stressed increased focus on greater collaboration between the universities and the industry to promote research, job creation and preparing the youth of the country to efficiently meet the requirements of the market besides being able to compete at the international level.
The president stressed for developing and strengthening linkages with the reputed international universities so as to benefit from the global experiences and expertise in various educational fields. His meeting with the vice chancellors was part of the series of the meetings the President has been holding with the educationist, heads of the universities and scholars from across the country to promote education and quality research in the country.
The vice chancellors and rectors thanked the president for meeting and his keen interest in the promotion of education in the county. They apprised the president about academic activities, research development and other achievements, ongoing and future projects and plans and different issues of their respective universities.
The president assured the heads of the universities of all possible support and patronage in the promotion of education in Pakistan. He also congratulated Dr Mukhtar Ahmed on his appointment as HEC Chairman and expressed hope that he would play his active role in the promotion of higher education in the country.
