ISLAMABAD, Oct 28 (APP): Experts at a two-day international conference on higher education and sustainability have called for transforming universities into centres of innovation, policymaking and sustainable development to help societies respond to rapid technological change and emerging global challenges.
The conference, titled “Higher Education at the Crossroads: Local Action, Global Sustainability,” was organised by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, and Alhamd Islamic University (AIU), in collaboration with the Global Strategic Institute for Sustainable Development (GSISD), said a press release issued on Wednesday.
It brought together vice-chancellors, academics, researchers, policy experts and students from Pakistan and abroad to explore how higher education institutions can address local challenges while contributing to global sustainability.
The deliberations underscored the need to align higher education with national development priorities, strengthen university–industry partnerships, integrate emerging technologies into teaching and research, and equip graduates with the skills required to navigate a rapidly changing world.
The inaugural session featured welcome addresses by Prof. Dr. Shakeel Roshan, President of Alhamd Islamic University, and Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS. Prof. Dr. Amir Zia, Conference Secretary, outlined the conference theme and key areas of discussion. Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Hazir Ullah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chitral; Dr. Husnul Amin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Swat; Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Senior Research Fellow and Dr. Usman Chohan, Research Fellow at IRS. Lt. Gen. Asif Yasin Malik (Retd), HI (M), attended as Chief Guest.
Over the two days, technical sessions examined a wide range of issues, including the localisation of global sustainability goals, higher education policy and governance, digital learning and artificial intelligence, curriculum reform, community engagement, interdisciplinary research, climate literacy, ethical leadership and institutional resilience.
Researchers from universities across Pakistan presented their papers, while international scholars, including Dr. Wayne Veck of the University of Winchester, UK, and Dr. K. O. Muraina of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Nigeria, participated online. Video sessions from Quetta also brought regional perspectives into the discussions.
A panel discussion on the second day focused on the choices facing Pakistan’s higher education sector. Panelists Dr. Muhammad Athar Hussain, Dr. Muhammad Azhar, Dr. Fayyaz Ahmed Faizi, Dr. Muhammad Arshad Dhar, Dr. Tanvir Afzal and Dr. Sadaf Zamir discussed the need to align degree programmes and research with national priorities, respond effectively to generative artificial intelligence, establish meaningful partnerships with industry, government and non-governmental organisations, and widen educational opportunities for girls and marginalised communities.
A key outcome of the conference was a proposed framework for sustained collaboration between IRS and Alhamd Islamic University, aimed at connecting academic research with policymaking and practical solutions. The framework envisages a policy fellowship programme through which selected students would gain hands-on experience in research methodology, policy analysis, evidence-based writing and policy brief preparation under IRS supervision.
The conference concluded with a call for stronger cooperation among universities, government, industry, and civil society, alongside curricula and research that address local needs while meeting international standards.
Syed Imran Sardar, Research Fellow at IRS, emphasized that to remain relevant amid unprecedented technological change, universities must evolve from centres of learning into engines of innovation, policymaking, and sustainable development. He highlighted the IRS–Alhamd Islamic University partnership as a practical model for bridging academic knowledge and policy action to advance sustainable development and more effective policymaking in Pakistan.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
