3-Day Conference on Higher Education in South Asia Kicks Off in Islamabad

A three-day international conference on Promoting South Asia Regional Cooperation in Higher Education (PSARCHE) started in Islamabad on Tuesday, bringing together representatives from South Asian countries including Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The conference is being organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and is funded under the World Bank's Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project.

The event has garnered a diverse group of higher education leaders, subject matter experts, and policymakers to grapple with a strategy for positioning South Asian youth with critical skills for the 21st century. The topic areas include: labor market trends, the effect of the age of the digital, Open and Distance Learning, Artificial Intelligence and the role for research, innovation, and commercialization in Higher Education. The conference will be aimed at creating a collaborative environment that fosters cross-border partnerships, strengthens regional networks, and lays the foundation for sustainable improvements in the education system across South Asia.

The hon'ble minister for federal education and professional training, in his opening address, commended HEC at the beginning to organize this valuable event. Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui hoped that conference would provide this platform for them to share, exchange best practice, and be able to produce lasting partnerships through which collective targets of higher education development in this region would become more feasible.

This is a landmark conference, and it will pave the way for many more to come. Cooperation between South Asian countries is not just an opportunity but a necessity. Your presence and contributions to this dialogue will be crucial in driving forward our shared goals, and we look forward to collaborating with you on this transformative journey," said Dr. Siddiqui.

Earlier, Chairman of HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed welcomed international delegates. He said that over two billion people reside in South Asia and face numerous challenges. He praised the gathering of policymakers, thought leaders, and educators who are coming together to share their knowledge and experiences.

"At HEC Pakistan, we are committed to fostering regional collaboration, especially within South Asia, to build a holistic and inclusive higher education ecosystem. This conference will help unlock the full potential of higher education in our region", Dr. Ahmed stated.

Dr. Keiko Inoue, Practice Manager for Education in South Asia for the World Bank, noted the importance of collaboration in higher education for the region's future. She further mentioned that improving the research and commercialization processes could stimulate innovations across industries and drive positive growth within South Asia.

As Chairman HEC pointed out, the problems we face today are borderless, and just solving them in one country will no longer suffice. We should start in our own countries, but expand it region-wide so that we will really be addressing these issues", said Dr. Inoue.

In the view of Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum, Executive Director of HEC, higher education is a matter of global concern, not regional. He mentioned that education has become a matter of region by technology in this digital age. It is now not confined to classrooms.

We are not talking of education in classrooms only but regional education made possible through technology. However, to enable this cooperation, we must equip ourselves with the necessary tools", Dr. Qayyum said.

It started with an overview of the higher education regional cooperation activities in South Asia, led by World Bank Lead Education Specialist Ms. Nina Arnhold. The session on Quality Assurance and Accreditation in East Asia and Europe was led by Dr. Andree Sursock, Senior Advisor at the European University Association.

The first day of the conference had two plenary sessions. Chair by session speakers: Dr Mohan Aryal, Senior Education Specialist, the World Bank; Ms Pema Penjor Bhutan; Saeed Zaman Pakistan; Imaad Abdulla Maldives; Prof Madhu Singh Nepal; and Selim Reja Bangladesh. Regional Cooperation to orient Higher Education toward the 21st Century Labor Market. Moderated by chair Dr Zia-ul-Qayyum. These discussions provided insight into the role of higher education in shaping economic development and aligning education systems with evolving labor market needs.

The first day of the conference ended with a visit to various universities in Islamabad by the foreign delegates, offering them a chance to experience Pakistan's educational landscape firsthand.

The conference, which continues for two more days, is expected to feature a variety of perspectives, discussions, keynotes, and presentations. Delegates will also visit some of Pakistan’s leading universities, which are pioneering innovative Ed-Tech solutions. These visits will showcase how educational technology is transforming the higher education sector and help facilitate regional cooperation.

PSARCHE is a significant step toward strengthening South Asia’s higher education landscape. Through collaborative efforts, the countries of the region aim to overcome shared challenges, exchange best practices, and work together to create sustainable, technology-driven educational systems that will empower future generations.