PESHAWAR, Oct 28 (APP): Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday stressed the need to improve the quality of higher education, promote research and innovation, and ensure the timely appointment of vice chancellors in public sector universities across the province.
He expressed these views while chairing a meeting on higher education attended by Adviser to the Governor on Education Dr Amir Abdullah, Secretary Higher Education Abidullah Kakakhel, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Prof Dr Muhammad Inayatullah.
The Governor said every district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now had a university, but the real challenge was to ensure quality education and improve academic standards. He said universities should receive adequate funding, scholarships should be expanded and issues relating to the salaries and pensions of university employees should be resolved.
He urged faculty members to focus on modern teaching methods and research, adding that the performance of vice chancellors should be regularly evaluated. He also stressed preserving the academic excellence and historic legacy of Edwardes College Peshawar.
Governor Kundi said Gomal University, being one of the largest universities in the country, had great potential and should play a leading role in promoting quality education, research and innovation.
He also called for the establishment of campuses of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University in Dera Ismail Khan, assuring that land would be made available for the projects if required.
The Governor also informed the meeting about the proposed establishment of a cadet college for the children of martyred personnel and said talented students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be provided every possible opportunity to excel through quality education and research.
Speaking on the occasion, HEC Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar said the timely appointment of vice chancellors was essential for improving governance and raising academic standards in universities. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had immense academic potential and talented students, assuring the meeting of HEC’s full support for strengthening higher education institutions in the province.
The HEC chairman appreciated Gomal University’s efforts to expand international collaboration, particularly its engagement with Chinese institutions. He also praised the research performance of the University of Peshawar and assured full cooperation for the development and improvement of universities across the province.
The meeting was informed that stronger coordination between the Higher Education Commission and the provincial education department would help address the challenges facing the higher education sector.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
