ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) in a joint venture with Australian government will provide 175 scholarships to Pakistani scholars to pursue PhD studies in Australian universities.

This was agreed in a meeting held here on Thursday between the HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson.

“Both sides agreed to start a joint scholarship programme for 175 Pakistani scholars to pursue PhD studies in Australian universities. The formal agreement is likely to be signed in the second week of August,” said a press statement issued by the HEC.

The statement said during the meeting it was also proposed that the two countries would deliberate on launching a programme on the pattern of Pakistan-US Joint Research Programme providing faculty members and researchers from both countries to work jointly in areas of mutual interest.

The HEC chairman, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, briefed the High Commissioner about HEC initiatives for development of higher education and research in the country and how evolution of the HEC from erstwhile University Grants Commission has brought about a paradigm shift.

The Chairman said that the HEC was striving to further increase the access rate to higher learning with strict measures to ensure quality as well as promoting relevant research to impact society.

According to the statement, Ms Margaret Adamson said Pakistan was a marvellous country with plenty of resources and nice people. She said that Australia had a strong background in agriculture, water resources, livestock and food security and the country would like to facilitate Pakistan for research and development in these fields.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2015

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