ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: The federal government has decided to increase the allocation of funds for Higher Education Commission (HEC) from Rs8 billion to Rs16 billion in a period of three years.

This was decided at a high-level meeting on higher education, presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, here on Saturday.

Science and Technology Minister Prof Atta-ur-Rehman and Education Minister Zobaida Jalal briefed the president on the reforms in the education sector, said an official announcement.

The president approved an additional amount of over Rs1 billion to be allocated this year for the HEC to fund the universities.

It was also decided that the present allocations for higher education programmes being conducted by IT and Telecom division; S&TR division; Health division; Food and Agriculture division; ministry of education or any other division will be transferred to the budgetary head of the HEC.

President Musharraf agreed to the proposal that higher education commission would be a fully autonomous body and it would send its summaries directly to the cabinet division for seeking approval.

Dr Atta, in his briefing, told the meeting that the ministry of science and technology, in consultation with the law division, would come forward with an amendment in the rules of business to ensure complete autonomy of the HEC in reporting to the cabinet as well as its committee.

Highlighting the vision and strategy of the HEC, he deliberated upon the challenges faced by the higher education sector, the need of governance reforms, faculty development, rehabilitation of infrastructure, strengthening of research, curriculum development and the ways and means to create the university.

He said the HEC would work for the attainment of international standards in quality of education, research and development. Another area of focus would be to tailor education programmes according to the national needs and socio-economic development, Dr Atta said.

Stressing the need for high quality faculty, the minister said programmes would be initiated for PhD and post-doctoral level training programmes for faculty.

Support would be given for special courses and workshops in English, communication skills, proposal writing and analytical skills, he added.