The goal of the Rectors Conference Regional Roundtable, which met at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad the other day, was to brainstorm and create suggestions for the Rector's Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Islamabad from December 1–3, 2023. The opening remarks were given by Dr. Abdul Basit, President of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP), and the attendees were briefed on the objectives of the regional conference by Murtaza Noor, Executive Director of APSUP, who also emphasised the critical role that educational institutions play in addressing the issues that Pakistan's higher education system is currently facing.
All of the presenters agreed that Pakistan, a country known for its rich history and dynamic culture, suffers many difficulties in its higher education system. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Vice-Chancellor of QAU, stated that higher education institutions play a more crucial role than ever in today's more linked world, where information and innovation propel economic growth and social progress. In light of global issues, the conversation examined the unique difficulties that Pakistan's higher education system faced and looked at potential solutions.
The Rectors Conference Regional Roundtable covered a number of important topics, such as an analysis of Pakistan's higher education and international issues, methods for integrating entrepreneurship and research commercialization into higher education to make an impact, and a study of the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in higher education. Higher education institutions are going through a revolutionary moment, according to Mr. Wajahat Latif, Pro-Rector IIUI, because of the rapid breakthroughs in emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI).
These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way education is delivered, accessed, and experienced, he added. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Vice Chancellor, Quaid-i-Azam University; Mr. Wajahat Latif, Pro-Rector IIUI; Prof. Dr. Anila Kamal, Vice Chancellor, Rawalpindi Women University; Prof. Dr. Uzaira Rafique, Vice Chancellor, FJWU Rawalpindi; Prof. Dr. M. Daud Awan, Vice Chancellor, Preston University; Dr. M. Mujahid, Rector, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule, Haripur; Imtiaz Goraya, Vice Chancellor, Al-Khair University; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Bashir Khan, Vice President, Abasyn University; Prof. Dr. Waseem Shahzad; and Dr. Ayesha Zahid, Executive Director, Superior University, also addressed the conference.
