ISLAMABAD: World Bank is likely to approve a financing of $200 million to assist the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to develop the tertiary education sector in the country.

In line with the Planning Commission’s Vision 2025, HEC has outlined its own vision to develop the tertiary education sector which lists the problems, analyzes international trends and takes lessons from earlier reforms.

The ‘HEC Vision 2025’ presents an opportunity for the World Bank to partner with the government on its plan to achieve a substantive transformation of its tertiary education sector. A World Bank mission will appraise the project early next year, and it is expected that the executive board will approve the financing of $200 million for the project, which will cost $1,180 million.

HEC has outlined eight key strategic priorities to develop its tertiary education sector. One of the key priorities is to increase the number of highly qualified faculty in higher education institutions which will be achieved by preparing 10,000 PhD faculty for higher education institutions in the next 10 years through a US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Programme and establish PhD programmes in Pakistan.

HEC plans to phase out all one and two year bachelor level programmes and replace them with the standard four-year programme, introducing field work and internships, establishing low cost split-degree graduate programmes and refining the current system of curriculum development and review.

Since its establishment in 2002, HEC has introduced initiatives to improve quality and instil a culture of research. Despite this, much remains to be accomplished, according to a World Bank report.

It has planned to increase equitable access to tertiary education for those between the ages of 17 and 23 by increasing capacity in existing universities, establishing new institutions and via distance learning.

HEC plans to specifically improve the quality of affiliated colleges since they are the weakest link in the tertiary education sector.

To build excellence in leadership the HEC plans to focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of governance systems and produce visionary leaders for higher education institutions.

HEC plans to increase collaborative research between universities and industries, increase investments in ICT services.

HEC vision focuses on using the information technology to full potential to increase productivity, efficiency, research output and cost effectiveness of higher education.

The World Bank programme will provide technical assistance to HEC in the provision of services to universities and colleges.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2018