Industry-university linkages crucial for economic development

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a Regional Policy Dialogue have said that linkages between industry and universities are imperative to speed up social and economic development of a society.

The speakers were taking part in an International Strategic Partnership in Research and Education's Regional Policy Dialogue (INSPIRE-RPD) launched here on Tuesday.

This regional dialogue had high-level participation from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom.

Participants included representatives of Ministries of Education of the above countries, Vice Chancellors and Pro Vice Chancellors of universities and sector and industry specific representatives.

The dialogue was jointly organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the British Council under the INSPIRE programme of the British Council.

The British Council has been working closely with the HEC since 2004 and has connected 50 universities in Pakistan with UK universities to help the capacity building of higher education institutions in Pakistan.

INSPIRE RPD explores many critical questions in knowledge transfer in higher education and how best practices from the region can be implemented in Pakistan.

The dialogue was formally launched by Adam Thomson, British High Commissioner to Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion the British High Commissioner said that the higher education was of extreme importance in the progress of a country.

"I am really glad that this regional dialogue is happening in Islamabad and thankful to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and the British Council for organizing this momentous event."

He was joined in by Dr. Javaid Laghari, Chairman of Higher Education Commission, and David Martin, Country Director of British Council Pakistan at the opening ceremony.

The opening day explored the role and responsibilities of government in economic, social and cultural development of a country both nationally and internationally.

Pakistani perspective was outlined by Dr. S. Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director, HEC and Dr. Mukhtar, Member Operations and Planning, HEC. Foreign perspectives were given by Dr. Mohsin Elmahdy, Executive Director, Projects Management Unit, Ministry of Higher Education, Egypt and Prof. Geoff Layer, Pro Vice Chancellor University of Bradford, UK.

Presentations were given by David Coates, Head of Knowledge Sharing, Technology Strategy Board, UK; Dr. Atiq Sedi, General Director, Afghan Geological Surveyl Afghanistan, Prof. Zainul Zainuddin, Director of Innovations Office, USM, Malaysia and other esteemed guests.

The evening sessions of the day were on the perspective of universities particularly highlighting the challenges in establishing external linkages with industry, business and non-commercial sectors.

The second day focuses on the needs and demands of industry and society at large and the external perspective on Higher Education. The industry perspective will be presented by Rafiqal Islam, CEO RAK Pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh; Ms. KumruAdanali, MD Carbon Clear Turkey; Abdul Razzak Dawood, a renowned industrialist from Pakistan and Rector of LUMS and other distinguished guests.

Case studies of successful collaborations between education institution, governments, donors and the industry will be given by Dr. Ihtesham Rehman, Queen Mary, University of London; MyrkhalykovUzhkempirovich, Dean South Kazakhstan State University and Ajmal Sherazi, Afghan Institute of Rural Development, Afghanistan.

The evening sessions will focus on action planning and chalk out strategy on moving the dialogue forward and incorporating learning from the event in Pakistan. The Action Planning session will be led by Lynne Heslop, Regional Director, Higher Education, British Council; David Martin, Director, British Council Islamabad and Dr. Mukhtar of the HEC.

The Action Planning Group will analyze the different strategies and vote on the best practices to be taken forward.

The final day will summarize the work of the first two days and discuss how higher education in Pakistan can be made more industry specific and how the right environment for knowledge sharing can be achieved.

Institutional drivers and initiatives in Pakistan will be analyzed and the prospects for the future will be discussed.