Brigadier Younus Javed, VC MUST Mirpur AJ&K participates in 54th Vice Chancellors’ Committee Meeting hosted by HEC to discuss key issues in Higher Education; Perceptions about Higher Education, Employability of Graduates, Implementation of HEC Policies & the Role of Councils

The two-day 54th Vice Chancellors’ Committee meeting organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad addressed the most vital issues facing higher education of Pakistan. The meeting brought together Vice Chancellors from public sector universities including Brigadier Younus Javed, VC MUST, Mirpur AJ&K. During the sessions various topics outlined in the conference were discussed by different groups. Brigadier Younus Javed along with fellow panelists such as seasoned academicians Lt. Gen (R) Moazzam Ejaz, Rector, NUTECH Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Asif Ahmed Shaikh, Vice Chancellor, Sukkur IBA University & Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi, Vice Chancellor, Lahore College for Women University engaged in an in-depth discussion on key subtopics such as the implementation status of Higher Education Commission (HEC) policies & the role of councils in enhancing the quality of higher education in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of Higher Education Commission outlined the meeting’s agenda and emphasised the need for solution-oriented discussions. Key issues discussed included financial challenges, enhancing employability, boosting the IT and business sectors & localizing the semester system to better meet local requirements. Other topics included the establishment of drug-free campuses, revised eligibility criteria for teacher appointments & finding solutions to challenges in implementing HEC’s policies. The meeting also highlighted the importance of redefining the role of universities in shaping the future of Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed pointed out the need to move beyond merely discussing issues and focus on tangible solutions. The Prime Minister has been actively involved in meetings aimed at improving graduate employability and boosting the IT and business sectors in the country. The event highlighted technological advancements developed with significant investments, including a Tier-III data center, cloud solutions, and high-performance computing infrastructure to support academic institutions, built on a self-sustaining model to reduce dependence on government funding.

The discussions also addressed the introduction of a performance-based pay scale for faculty, prioritizing research impact over publication quantity and emphasising teaching excellence. A session also focused on improving employability by enhancing skills such as collaboration, critical thinking while aligning curricula with market demands. In his concluding remarks Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, Executive Director, HEC acknowledged the complexity of prevailing challenges & highlighted the need to realign practices to more effectively meet the evolving needs of the higher education sector.