Session HEDP

Promoting South Asia Regional Cooperation
in Higher Education (PSARCHE)
PSARCHE 2025
Higher Education Commission Pakistan and World Bank

Day & Time Date & Activity
DAY 1 OF CONFERENCEMonday, January 13, 2025
Arrival of Overseas Guests at Islamabad Serena Hotel
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.Cultural Night at Higher Education Commission, H-9, Islamabad
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Networking Dinner at HEC
DAY 2 OF CONFERENCETuesday, January 14, 2025
Inaugural Session, Venue: Sheesh Mahal, Islamabad Serena Hotel
08:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
(30mins)
Arrival of Guests
9:00 a.m. - 9:05 a.m.
(05mins)
National Anthem
9:05 a.m. -9:10 a.m.
(05mins)
Recitation of Holy Quran by Qari Anas Samawi
09:10 a.m. - 09:20 a.m.
(10 mins)
Welcome Note by Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC
9:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
(10 mins)
Address by Dr. (Ms). Keiko Inoue, Practice Manager for Education South Asia, World Bank
9:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
(10min)
Address by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training Pakistan
09:40 a.m. - 09:50 a.m.
(10 mins)
Address by Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, Executive Director, HEC
09:50 a.m. -10:05 a.m.
(15 mins)
SAR Higher Education Regional Cooperation Activities to-date by Dr. Harsha Aturupane, WB Team Leader Higher Education Regional Cooperation and Ms. Nina Arnhold, WB Lead Education Specialist
10:05 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
(15 mins)
Quality Assurance and Accreditation in East Asia and Europe by Ms. Inga Afanasieva, WB Task Team Leader for HEDP and Dr. Andree Sursock, Senior Advisor, European University Association
10:20 a.m. -10:25 a.m.
(05min)
Introduction to SAR Regional Cooperation Conference by Mr. Awais Ahmad, Project Coordinator, HEDP
10:25 a.m. -10:50 a.m.Hi Tea

Plenary 1
Venue: Shesh Mehal, Islamabad Serena Hotel

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Topic: Promoting Regional Cooperation to Orient Higher Education to the 21st Century Labor Market
Chair: Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum, Executive Director HEC
Speakers:
      1.Prof. Dr. Syed Sohail Hussain Naqvi, CEO Knowledge Streams, Former ED HEC, Former VC,         
        University      of  Central Asia
       2. Dr. Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, VC, University of Education, Lahore 

       3. Dr. Anjum Halai, Pro -Rector, AKU, Member HEDP Steering

       4. Dr. Naukhez Sarwar, Principal and Dean, NUST Business School

Plenary 2
Venue: Shesh Mehal, Islamabad Serena Hotel

11:50 a.m. - 01:00 p.m.

Topic: Promoting Regional Cooperation to Orient Higher Education to the 21%
Century Labor Market

Chair: Prot. Dr. Zia UL-Qayyum, Executive Director HEC

Speakers:

   1.Prof. Dr. Syed Sohail Hussain Naqvi, CEO Knowledge Streams, Former
      ED HEC, Former VC, University of Central Asia

    2.Dr. Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, VC, University of Education, Lahore

    3.Dr. Anjum Halai, Pro -Rector, AKU, Member HEDP Steering

    4.Dr. Naukhez Sarwar, Principal and Dean, NUST Business School

Lunch & Networking
01.00 p.m. -02.00 p.m.

02:30 a.m. - 04:30 p.m.

University Visits for foreign delegates only
(HEDP projects showcasing in 2 Higher Education Institutions)

Group 1 –
National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)

Group 2-
Air University- National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP)

VC Committee meeting (VCs of Public sector HEls only)
at Islamabad Serena Hotel

DAY 3 OF CONFERENCE

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Venue: Sheesh Mahal, Islamabad Serena Hotel

To Paraller sessions

9:00-10:30 a.m

Panel Session: Regional Cooperation in HE in a
Digital World: Transformative Role of Al in HE

Chair: Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, VC, NED UET,


Karachi

Speakers:

1. Dr. Mohammad Mujahid, Rector —PAF-AST

2. Prof. Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Chairman National
Centre for Artificial Intelligence, NUST

3. Prof. Dr. Wagar-ul-Quonain, Chairman

Panel Session: Regional Cooperation in Expanding
Access to HE in a Digital World, Challenges & Future of ODL

Chair: Prof. Dr. Jamil Ahmed, Member IT, HEC

Speakers:

1. Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, VC, Allama
    LQBAL Open University

2. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti, Rector Virtual
    University

3. Mr. Denis Nicolaev, Senior Education
    Specialist, World Bank

Hi Tea
10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

Visit for foreign delegates only

Venue: Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of
Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur

11:00 am – Departure for Haripur from Islamabad,
Serena Hotel

VC Committee Meeting at Islamabad Serena Hotel
for the VCs of Public Sector Universites Only

DAY 4 OF CONFERENCE

Thursday, January 16, 2025
Venue: Sheesh Mahal, Islamabad Serena Hotel

09:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m.

Topic: Promoting Higher Education for Research & Innovation
Commercialization (country experiences)
Chair: Dr. Shoab Khan, Adjunct Professor & Chancellor, Sir Syed CASE Institute of Technology
Speakers: Government representatives from

Pakistan – Dr. Bushra Mirza, VC, FJWU &
    1. Bangladesh
    2. Dr. Yasir Nawab, VC,  University of Kamalia

    3. Sri Lanka – Prof. Kapila Seneviratne, Chairman, University Grants Commission

9:50 a.m-10:50 a.m.

Topic: Promoting Regional Cooperation in Higher Education for Research & Innovation Commercialization
Chair: Dr. Harsha Aturupane, Lead Economist, WB
Speakers:
     1. Dr. Anwar Ul Hassan Gillani, Former VC, University of Haripur/ Dr Ali Cheema
     2. Prof. Dr. Samreen Hussain (TI), VC, Dawood University

        of Engineering and Technology, Karachi
     3. Dr. Moeed W. Yusuf, VC, BNU
     4. Prof. Dr. Arabella Bhutto, VC, Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University, Jamshoro
     5. Dr. Sajjad Ahmad, Director CRD, Minhaj University Lahore

Hi Tea
10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.-11:30a.m.Topic: Promoting Regional Cooperation in Higher Education opportunities for collaboration with West Asia. Speaker: Higher Education Minister of Kazakhstan
11:30a.m.-11:40 p.m.Conference Proceedings and Outcomes by Mr. Awais Ahmad, Project Coordinator, HEDP
11:40 a.m.-11:50 p.m.Vote of Thanks & Closing Note
11:50 pm-12:50 pmShowcasing of Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) Grants
12:40 p.m. - 02:00 p.m.Closing, Lunch and Networking