“Exposure to Global Best Practices in Higher Education (EGBP-HE) Programme.”

FAISALABAD May 21: Universities must transform themselves into engines of inclusive growth by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and global collaboration to address emerging societal and economic challenges, speakers said at the Vice Chancellors’ Conference organised by the Punjab Higher Education Commission under the “Exposure to Global Best Practices in Higher Education (EGBP-HE) Programme.” The conference brought together vice chancellors across the province, to discuss global trends in higher education, research collaboration, innovation and institutional development. Virtually addressing the participants, PHEC Chairperson Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said universities must transform themselves into centres of innovation, entrepreneurship and societal development by aligning higher education with the emerging economic and technological needs of the country. He said higher education institutions should focus on research-driven solutions, community engagement and global partnerships to address challenges. He said universities had a pivotal role in promoting entrepreneurship, and startup culture. He stressed the need for strengthening university-industry linkages, interdisciplinary research and international collaboration to improve academic quality and ensure socio-economic uplift. Addressing virtually, Prof. Dr. Paul Whitney, Vice President International Programs at Washington State University said that the universities must increasingly focus on community impact and involvement while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers. Institutions need to build teams of complementary expertise across multiple disciplines to address complex global issues effectively, while also balancing academic freedom with institutional accountability. Prof. Whitney pointed out that the rising cost of higher education and changing demographic trends are reshaping university systems globally. He encouraged higher education institutions to remain flexible, research-oriented and student-centered in order to strengthen their academic and societal impact. Former Vice President, International Programs Washington State University Prof. Dr. Asif Chaudhry said that higher education institutions in Pakistan possessed potential and needed to adopt globally recognised academic and governance models to enhance research productivity and institutional excellence. He emphasised the need for strengthening university-industry collaboration and faculty development initiatives. He stressed upon the need for joint degrees program and collaborations with other universities at the international level. Global best practices: Dr. Chaudhry highlighted WSU’s model of integrating international students across the globe, noting that exposure to diverse academic environments strengthens innovation and adaptability. Prof. Dr. Kulvinder S. Gill of Washington State University emphasized that higher education institutions must move beyond traditional metrics of success and align themselves with societal impact, entrepreneurship, and rural uplift. He stressed the importance of embedding entrepreneurship education across disciplines. He urged universities to revise faculty evaluation criteria, shifting from counting of papers and patents to impact-based measures. He called for innovative approaches to bring innovation and technologies to rural areas, thereby slowing migration to cities and improving rural livelihoods. While elite institutions may focus on unicorns, he argued that other universities should prioritize microbusinesses and low-capital models. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali said the initiative would provide an opportunity for Pakistani universities to learn from international experiences and improve academic standards, research culture and outreach. He said universities must adopt innovative approaches and strengthen global engagement to compete at the international level. . He added that higher education institutions must focus on practical and impact-oriented research capable of translating scientific knowledge into solutions for industry, agriculture and community development. He said Universities must become engines of inclusive growth, where innovation is not confined to laboratories but translated into livelihoods, startups, and rural prosperity. Government College University Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rauf-I-Azam, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tariq Javed, Government Sadiq College Women University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shazia Anjum, Ghazi University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad, The University of Faisalabad Rector Prof. Dr. Aman Ullah Malik, University of Jhang Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Faheem Aftab, University of Layyah Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abu Bakar, Emerson University Multan Vice Chancellor Dr. Hassan Khaliq Quraishi, Thal University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Saeed Ahmad, PHEC Director General Dr. Muhammad Asif Munir and other notables attended.