Academic excellence to promote higher education: Atta
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Higher Education Commission (HEC) is graduallychanging the landscape of higher education sector by promoting academicexcellence, HEC Chairman Dr. Attaur Rehman said Tuesday.
The reforms introduced by HEC in universities are now being admired internationally, he said while addressing the 3rd Vice Chancellors Committee meeting held here.
Dr. Atta said Pakistan is among the few countries of the world where public and private sector universities have access to 40,000 e-books and 23,000 electronic journals. He emphasized upon the Vice Chancellors to increase research work in their respective universities, as through it they will be judged as a creative university.
HEC scholarships are attracting talented students to go abroad and on their return they are being adjusted in the universities, he said. The HEC Chairman stressed upon the universities to develop zero tolerance on plagiarism, adding teachers must not be cheaters.
He said HEC will fund universities for developing technological park which would help the industrial sector.
Minister for Education and Science and Technology Dr. Shams Kasim Lakha made a presentation before the Vice Chancellors explaining that our universities now should try to stand on their own feet by developing their own financial resources.
Former Governor State Bank and Chairman of National Commission forGovernment Reforms also gave a presentation on the occasion regarding the issues related to the social sciences and humanities disciplines being faced by the universities.
He was of the view that the universities have started giving greatersignificant to social sciences disciplines than ever before. He said there is a growing feeling that while science and technology is essential for development, teaching of social sciences with greater zeal has become essential to produce good human beings.
HEC Executive Director Prof. Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi gave a detailed briefing about ongoing projects and initiatives of the HEC being carried out amongst our universities now a days.
He urged the Vice Chancellors to strictly observe the completion of these projects and take measures regarding their new projects to be initiated in their respective universities.
The Vice Chancellors Committee meeting in which all the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Representatives of all the public and private universities of the country are participating will continue till November 29. The participants will discuss the core issues of the agenda relating to the development of higher education sector of Pakistan.