Islamabad (TDI): Chief Executive of the British Council Scott McDonald has announced a commitment of £5 million to support components Pak-UK Education Gateway’s Phase II, underscoring the British Council’s passion for deepening the UK’s connection with Pakistan.
Addressing the launching ceremony of Phase-II of the Pak-UK Education Gateway at the HEC Secretariat he emphasized the mutual respect and trust built with HEC over time.
He praised the strong political commitment of the Government of Pakistan to the Pak-UK Education Gateway, describing it as heartwarming, and extended his appreciation for establishing a framework for collaboration between the UK and Pakistan.
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He described this as an investment not only in academic growth but also in addressing critical challenges like climate change and Pakistan’s educational emergency.
On this occasion, addressing the event as a chief guest, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that the Government of Pakistan is committed to raise the country’s tertiary education enrollment rate above 13% in the coming years, aiming to match the educational standards of regional competitors.
He also expressed optimism about the continued success of the Pak-UK Education Gateway and emphasized the need for further collaboration between the UK and Pakistan.
Ahsan Iqbal acknowledged the British Council’s valuable support in formulating the Quality Assurance Framework for Pakistani universities.
He proposed initiatives such as customized training programs for faculty, increasing the number of UK-qualified PhDs in Pakistani universities, and exploring postdoctoral opportunities in the UK for existing Pakistani faculty members.
In his opening remarks, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed highlighted the longstanding collaboration between HEC and the British Council, emphasizing the support provided by both the UK and Pakistani governments.
He noted that Phase-I represented a unique model of reciprocity and system-to-system support, engaging government departments, universities, faculty, and students from both nations to promote mutual learning and growth.
Regarding Phase-II, the Chairman expressed optimism that the initiative would reach new heights.
On this occasion, UK’s Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Dalgleish, expressed the UK’s deep appreciation and strong sentiments towards Pakistan, particularly in the field of education.
He highlighted the UK’s comprehensive approach to education in Pakistan, working to create favorable conditions for increased collaboration between universities in both countries.
Dalgleish also acknowledged the commitment of both governments, calling it heartening, and expressed his enthusiasm for Phase-II, looking forward to a stronger commitment and positive outcomes for a successful shared future between the UK and Pakistan
The program aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration between Pakistan and the United Kingdom in the higher education sector. Building on the achievements of Phase-I, launched in 2018, the second phase is anticipated to further fortify academic connections and joint research initiatives for a lasting educational partnership.
Scheduled to begin in June 2025, Phase-II of the Pak-UK Education Gateway introduces six key components to support Pakistan’s higher education goals, promote student and faculty mobility, and facilitate joint research efforts with UK institutions.
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These components include Research for Impact; Transnational Education and Mutual Recognition of Qualifications; Leadership and Governance; Scholarships; Women in Higher Education; and Faculty Development.
Phase-I of the Gateway, valued at approximately PKR1.97 billion, yielded significant achievements. These included funding for eight collaborative research grants, resulting in 27 patents and 47 academic publications. Other key highlights were the training of 275 PhD supervisors, leadership development programs for over 40 Vice-Chancellors, and 200 academic fellowships.
