Top US University Signs Partnership With HEC

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has partnered with the University of Utah to advance capacity-building in Pakistan’s public universities. Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA), this initiative aims to enhance faculty development, strategic planning, policy reform, and institutional governance, according to an HEC press release on Thursday.

The signing ceremony was attended by HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, USAID Deputy Mission Director Andrew McKim, and other senior officials from HEC, the University of Utah, and USAID. The partnership agreement was signed by HEC Adviser for Global Engagement Awais Ahmed and University of Utah Professor of Civil Engineering Dr. Michael Barber.

This new collaboration extends the HESSA initiative to an additional 16 Pakistani universities, building on the support already provided to 16 others.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed emphasized the importance of such partnerships, stating, “This collaboration with the University of Utah will empower faculty and institutional leaders to elevate education standards across Pakistan.” He acknowledged USAID’s significant contributions, describing Pakistan’s youth as a “goldmine” deserving substantial investment.

Andrew McKim of USAID affirmed the agency’s commitment to the project, saying, “USAID is proud to support this transformative initiative, which reinforces education’s role in sustainable development in Pakistan.” Dr. Michael Barber echoed the University of Utah’s enthusiasm, stating, “We are honored to partner with HEC to advance Pakistan’s education system and promote academic growth.”

HEC Adviser Awais Ahmed highlighted the partnership’s objectives, which include strategic planning to uplift higher education, capacity building through training, and assistance in policy reform.

The HEC press release described the collaboration as part of USAID’s mission to strengthen Pakistan’s higher education sector, preparing universities to tackle global challenges. The partnership with the University of Utah reflects HEC’s commitment to fostering lasting international academic relationships that benefit both students and faculty.