ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday set aside Rs4.26 billion for the overseas scholarship scheme, official sources told Dawn.

The programme envisages increasing research facilities in the public sector universities, providing more PhDs as faculty members to bring educational standard on a par with international universities, bridging the gap of professionals and encouraging higher education at cost-effective prices.

Under the programme, 950 intakes from 2007-09 in the areas of engineering sciences, pharmaceuticals, bio-technology, information technology, social sciences, agricultural sciences, and health sciences would substantially improve the educational standard of universities, they said.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the first Faculty Development Course for University Teachers at the HEC campus on Thursday, the Higher Education chairman, Dr Attaur Rehman, confirmed that the Ecnec had approved a sum of Rs4.26 billion the other day.

He said learning was a life-long process and "we as Pakistanis have to accept the challenges of gaining knowledge as per requirements of the world. We as representatives of higher education sector of Pakistan are responsible for changing the current status of higher education in the country," Dr Atta said.

He said the HEC aimed to equip the university teachers with teaching skills and with orientation of latest trends of instructions being used at international level.

The Commission has launched a number of programmes to enhance the quality of higher education in the country, which is successfully being implemented in the higher education sector. The HEC aims to produce 1,500 PhDs every year in public sector universities providing them with all related facilities for promotion of standard education.

As many as 35 university teachers from 18 public sector institutions from all over the country are participating in this three-month course. The course is being organized by the section of learning innovation of the HEC. The resource persons for this particular course, who are prominent and experienced educationists, have been invited from all over the country to orient the participants with the latest trends in teaching and learning process.

The HEC has also decided to launch a series of faculty training courses for the young teachers of public sector universities and this course is first of the series.

Keeping in view the world wide practice that all new academic staff of educational institutions is required to participate in teaching and learning oriented courses, the HEC has scheduled a plan to conduct such courses at its campus in Islamabad.

This activity would not only help the participants lay the foundations of an effective teaching career but also cover training and support in learning teaching, assessment and supervision of several academic activities.

In this regard, the Commission has introduced a three-month intensive residential course in order to acquaint the young faculty members of public sector universities and institutions of higher learning with the latest and advanced process of teaching and learning, he said.

Six in-service training programmes would be conducted during a period of three years at the HEC campus. In each course, thirty-five faculty members from public sector universities and institutions would be able to enhance their teaching skills.

The course has been designed for those teachers who are relatively new to teaching in higher education sector. The other faculty member would also find this course helpful as an opportunity to reflect on their current teaching practice.