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The four-day Leadership and Management Program for Vice Chancellors concluded on Friday, June 23, 2023. The Prime Minister`s Coordinator, Khwaja Ahmed Hassan, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. PHEC Chairperson Dr. Shahid Munir put the recommendations of the conference, consisting of 13 points.

Khawaja Hassan assured to put the recommendations before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for an increase in the budget of higher education, saying that the service of higher education was the service of the country in the true sense.

In the concluding session, Dr. Shahid Munir stated the 13-point recommendations and demanded the provincial government allocate more budget for higher education, including the provincial universities and the PHEC, in order to increase the quality and accessibility of education.

He said the budget would help the universities adapt the education system according to the demands of the modern world, update the curriculum, incorporate emerging technologies and equip the students with relevant skills and knowledge for local and international jobs.

The PHEC chairperson added that the budget was needed to develop strategies to improve the enrollment of indigenous students in universities and access to quality higher education. He said the stakeholders would develop effective market-ing campaigns to promote Pakistani universities and attract international students, as well as visa procedures to facilitate enrollment and integration of international students.

Dr. Shahid Munir said stronger collaboration between universities and industry would be promoted to bridge the gap between academia and the job market. Internships, apprenticeships, and industry-focused research projects and students would be equipped with practical skills to enhance their employability. The universities should allocate funds for research and innovation so that faculty and students can be engaged in research projects to address national and global challenges.

The PHEC chief said networking and centers of excellence should be established to promote innovation and knowledge creation. He hinted at implementation of the college sector reforms to improve the quality of education in the colleges. He demanded the provincial government provide funds to establish centers of excellence in artificial intelligence, industrial robots and data science at universities.

He suggested that the universities should be empowered to improve their performance and develop strong governance frameworks and mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability and effective decision-making. He stressed the need for start professional development programs for educational heads and administrators to improve their management skills and promote good governance practices.

Dr. Shahid Munir said the implementation of these recommendations would help the education system in Pakistan to meet the needs of the modern world, improve educational opportunities for local students, attract international talent, and promote peace and tolerance. In the end, the chief guest distributed the certificates and souvenirs to the participants and the organizers.