Brigadier Younus Javed VC MUST, Mirpur AJ&K Speaks at Vice Chancellors’ Consultative Meeting-III organised by the Centre for International Strategic Studies Azad Jammu & Kashmir (CISS-AJK), advocates avant-garde Reforms in AJ&K’s Higher Education to catalyze Economic Security through Research, Innovation, Digital Renaissance, Synergistic Industry Linkages, Academic Eminence and Technology Commercialization; while citing global examples from USA, Germany, South Korea & other leading Nations, he calls for R&D Investment, University-Industry Partnerships, Human Capital Development and Curriculum Revitalization so as to position Universities at the vanguard of National prosperity & sustainable Knowledge transfer

The Centre for International Strategic Studies Azad Jammu and Kashmir (CISS-AJK) organised Vice Chancellors’ Consultative Meeting-III in Muzaffarabad bringing together University leaders and policymakers across AJ&K to deliberate on Higher Education reforms in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The session was graced by Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, Mr. Zafar Iqbal Malik, Minister for Higher Education AJ&K, Lt. Gen. (R) Dr. Asif Mumtaz Sukhera, HI(M) Vice Chancellor, Mohi‑ud‑Din Islamic University, Nerian Sharif, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Brig (R) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Younus Javed SI(M), Vice Chancellor, Mirpur University of Science and Technology MUST, Mirpur /AJ&K University of Bhimber (AJ&KUoB), Prof. Dr. Nasir Jamal Khattak, Vice Chancellor, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (UAJ&K), Prof. Dr. Anila Kamal, Vice Chancellor Women University Bagh, Prof. Dr. Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Azad Jammu and Kashmir University of Haveli & Mr. Muhammad Imtiaz, Vice Chancellor Al‑Khair University Bhimber AJ&K.

Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, Executive Director of CISS-AJK, while welcoming the delegates, said that Centre strives to serve as a bridge among Universities to enhance collaboration, build capacity & promote quality education across the region. Addressing the forum virtually Federal Minister Wajiha Qamar highlighted the potential of AJ&K’s Universities to become centres of excellence in every corner of the state if properly supported & aligned with economic and technological needs. She stressed the importance of aligning degree programs with industry requirements and developing an education system that boosts innovation and critical thinking. She also assured that the federal government would continue to extend national education and research initiatives to AJ&K’s institutions. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Zafar Iqbal Malik, Minister for Higher Education AJ&K described the conference as a timely effort to address gaps in educational quality & governance. He emphasised that although the number of Universities has increased, the priority must now shift toward strengthening academic quality, expanding research capacity & improving the employability of our graduates.

Brigadier Younus Javed, VC MUST highlighted the crucial role of Universities in advancing Pakistan’s economic security through research, innovation & technology commercialization. Citing global examples from USA, Germany, South Korea, Singapore & Malaysia he emphasised that sustained R&D investment, strong University-industry partnerships & strategic policy frameworks drive economic growth and technological advancement. VC MUST called for urgent reforms, including increased R&D funding, technology transfer offices, industry collaboration and human capital development through strategic PhD and fellowship programs, stressing that universities must evolve into engines of innovation and economic transformation. The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint communiqué proposing the formation of Thematic Working Groups on research, digital learning & curriculum development alongside a sustained mechanism for Unter-University coordination. It also proposed hosting the Vice Chancellors’ Conference on a rotational basis every quarter to maintain momentum and continuity of dialogue.