HEC to enhance collaboration between industry, academia
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is taking various steps to enhance University Industry relations in the country. For the purpose a forum has been constituted by the HEC. Senior academicians of engineering universities and representatives of leading industries of Pakistan have been nominated as the members of the forum.
To exploit the opportunities regarding increased globalization of trade, formulation of policies and procedures and use of standards from international, national and professional organizations, the local industry and the universities at home shall have to play an important role. This was stated by Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director HEC while chairing a meeting on "Collaboration between Industry & Academia" held at HEC Headquarters, Islamabad.
Dr. Naqvi further stated that HEC is not only providing a platform for university industry linkages but also providing recourses to exploit these linkages for mutual benefits. In this connection HEC has already initiated a University Industry Technology Support Program (UITSP) under which several industrial based research projects, prepared by universities in collaborating with local industries have been approved for funding by the HEC.
During the meeting participants from various engineering universities industries of Pakistan underscored the importance of linkages between academia and industry and highlighted the efforts that are being made by universities to increase the confidence level between industry and academia. The participants also discussed how academia and industry can contribute to evaluate the current scenario of academia and the industries. The participants also discussed that UITSP will significantly improve the industrial based research projects in Pakistan. Moreover, professors from engineering universities of Pakistan, who recently visited the trade fair, held in Korea, shared there experiences and submitted suggestions to enhance the scope of UITSP. It was also decided in the meeting that more delegations from the Engineering universities of Pakistan should visit the similar trade fairs at industrially developed countries for the same purpose.
The eminent academicians and the representatives of the Industry related organizations who attended the meeting were Mr. Imtiaz A Rastgar, Vice Chairman & CEO EDB, Prof. Engr. S. Imtiaz Gilani, V.C NWFP UET Peshawar, Prof. Dr. Altaf Hussain, Member Acad / R&D HEC, Dr. Altaf Ali G. Shaikh, Advisor Acad / R&D HEC, Prof. Dr. Shahid Naveed, UET Lahore, Prof. Dr. M.S.I.Alvi, UET Taxila, Air Cdre (r) Mansoor Malik, DG TIC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tufail, NED UET Karachi, Prof. Dr. Ali Bux Soomro, QUEST Nawabshah, Prof. Dr. Faiz ul Haassn, UET Lahore, Prof. Dr. Khan Muhammad Brohi, MUET Jamshoro, Prof. Dr. Muzaffar Mehmood, NED UET Karachi, Mr. Ijaz Ahmad, EDB, Mr. Yousaf Haroon, Tusdec, Mr. Hussain Farooq Ghafoor, NED UET Karachi, Mr. Hasan Haider, NPO, Ms. Quanita Amina Mahmood, NPO, Mr. Asim Ayaz, EDB and Engr. Zarsher Khan, ILO HEC.