The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan in support of World Bank-funded Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) Project, Organises 3-Day International Conference on “Promoting South Asia Regional Cooperation in Higher Education” in the National Capital

Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training graced the 3-Day International Conference on “Promoting South Asia Regional Cooperation in Higher Education (PSARCHE-2025)” held from 14th to 16th January 2025 in Islamabad. The conference brought together representatives from South Asian countries comprising Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Pakistan. Under the special initiatives of Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan the PSARCHE-2025 was jointly organised by the HEC Islamabad & World Bank under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project. The event aimed to boost joint ventures among education leaders, experts & policymakers with a focus on equipping South Asian youth with essential 21st-century skills, addressing evolving job market trends & exploring the impact of digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Open Distance Learning (ODL) on education. Brig (R) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Younus Javed, Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Vice Chancellor, MUST, Mirpur AJ&K together with distinguished educational scholars from across the country took part in & contributed to the discussions. The event served as a platform for academic leaders to engage in addressing pressing challenges & exploring avenues for growth and advancement in the education sector.

During the opening ceremony Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training stressed the importance of cooperation between South Asian countries in education. He hoped the conference would help participants share knowledge, exchange best practices & build partnerships to improve higher education across the region. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, HEC highlighted the need for regional cooperation to address shared challenges and create a more inclusive education system. He emphasised the importance of working together to fully realize the potential of education in South Asia. The conference also included discussions on how higher education can contribute to economic development and how universities can better prepare students for job market. Experts from different countries shared ideas on boosting research, innovation & business development in the region. Key speakers included Dr. Keiko Inoue from the World Bank and Dr. Andree Sursock from the European University Association.