Leicester hosts top delegation of education leaders from Pakistan

Published by University of Leicester Press Office for University of Leicester in Communities and also in Education

Visit will strengthen links between Pakistan’s universities and Leicester

Leicester is hosting a top delegation of education leaders from Pakistan.

They have come to the city as part of a programme developed by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education in conjunction with the Pakistan Higher Education Commission and the British Council, as a contribution to international cooperation and, more particularly, to the continuing evolution of Pakistan’s universities.

A delegation of 11 Vice-Chancellors/Rectors of Pakistan universities and four Higher Education representatives are at the University of Leicester this week and will also meet civic and Pakistani community leaders at a reception in the city.

The programme builds upon intensive study visits made to the UK by four groups of Pakistan vice-chancellors between 2008 – 2012 and this also resulted in on-going partnerships between universities in the Pakistan and the UK which have added additional value for the development of Pakistan’s universities and the implementation of its Higher Education strategy.

David Lock, International Projects Director from the Leadership Foundation, said:  “Leicester has been chosen as the venue for this programme as it has strong links with Pakistan, two universities of different types which will provide evidence to support the programme themes and offer the potential for on-going relationships with participants and their universities. Engineering, science and technology features strongly in the University of Leicester.”

As part of the Leicester programme, the Pakistan Vice-Chancellors will: 

1.     Obtain a systematic understanding of the principal policy agendas in UK HE; especially the government – university interface; and of the governance, management of UK universities.

2.     Identify key issues in the management and development of Pakistani universities which could benefit from consideration against parallel experiences and initiatives in UK universities.

3.     Evaluate UK experience on these issues presented in discussions and institutional visits, and determine the outlines of action plans on the selected issues for implementation in participant’s universities in Pakistan.

4.     Facilitate cooperation between British and Pakistani universities in education and research and institutional development.

Professor Douglas Tallack, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) from the University of Leicester said: “As one of the first UK universities to engage fully with Pakistan universities and the Higher Education Commission, the University of Leicester is delighted to be the host university for the visit to Leicester.  We are very supportive of this programme which has been developed as a contribution to international cooperation. We are pleased to be playing a role in the vital and continuing evolution of Pakistan’s universities.

“Universities need to lead the way on international understanding and the University of Leicester will be actively looking for additional ways to forge partnerships with Pakistan’s universities beyond the very fruitful ties we already have.” 

The higher education leaders from Pakistan come from the following institutions:

• Bahria University, Islamabad
• National Defence University, Islamabad
• Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
• University of Balochistan, Quetta
• University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad
• Institute of Management Sciences, Hayatabad, Peshawar
• Bannu University of Science & Technology
• University of Swabi
• Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak
• Higher Education Commission of Pakistan
• Federal Urdu University, Islamabad
• Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad, Nawabshah