HEC-BC Joint higher education links programme activated
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—An Activation Workshop for the 35 recently approved Higher Education Links with British Universities was held here in a local hotel the other day.
Activation Workshop participants included link coordinators of 35 new links and 15 ongoing links, vice chancellors, senor academic and faculty members from recognized public and private universities.
Jo Bakowki, Director British Council Islamabad welcomed the delegates representing various universities and higher education institutions from all over Pakistan. Under this programme that was introduce by HEC and BC in 2004; a higher educational links will be established for three years between Pakistani and UK educational institutions.
Currently, there are fifteen links of various higher education institutions of Pakistan with the UK’s universities are on. HEC and British Council have jointly agreed on the criteria for funding. Links funds mainly support staff exchange between the faculties of Pakistani and UK institutions. The funds are also available for workshops/ conferences, books, equipment and publications to enhance the impact of the link.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan formally announced the launch of the new links. Ms. Sue Beaumont, Director British Council, Pakistan was also present on the occasion. Professor Haroon Rasheed, VC University of Peshawar, Dr. Mohmood-ul-Hassan Butt, VC Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad and Dr. Najma Najam, VC Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi have also expressed their views on the programme.
On the occasion Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman said Higher Education Commission has started several programmes for the promotion of Higher Education and we have invited the foreign countries to the establishment of standard universities in Pakistan.
He further told that foreign counties i.e France, Sweden, Australia and Germany, Itly, Korea and Japan will open their universities in Karachi, Sialkot, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar respectively.
These universities would be functional in October 2008. He also appealed to America and Britian to open their Universities in Pakistan.