USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) recently conducted a transformative four-days (January 15-18, 2024) training program at Lahore. This intensive session concentrated a pivotal area crucial to the advancement of student support services at Pakistani higher education institutions: Executive Student Leadership and Fundraising. Dr. Randy McCrillis, Dean of Students and Executive Director of the Office of Global Engagement at the University of Utah, led the Executive Leadership segment, focusing on strategies for fostering student belonging.

Participants from diverse departments representing 16 universities actively engaged in the training sessions, fostering a rich exchange of ideas. The training concluded with a formal closing ceremony and a vote of thanks. Vice Chancellor LCWU Prof Dr. Shagufta Naz distributed certificates to all participants as a recognition of their successful completion of the 4-day training program.

The overarching objective of this program was to empower participating universities in developing action plans for student support. These plans aim to enhance existing services and introduce innovative programs. By focusing on executive leadership, the training aimed to equip university representatives with the necessary skills and knowledge to facilitate students and make higher education more accessible. In essence, the USAID’s HESSA training hosted by LCWU stands as a testament to collaborative efforts in advancing the quality and effectiveness of higher education services across diverse institutions.