HEC wants to accelerate the pace and scope of cooperation with New Zealand

New Zealand has been sharing some of her experiences with Higher Education Commission (HEC) and that they are interested to further enhance this collaboration said Ambassador of New Zealand (NZ) Brian Sanders during the meeting.

Ambassador called on Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and incharge, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and exchanged views.

“We gathered together for continuation and expansion of HEC collaboration with the NZ higher education sector as well as its industry, agriculture and other important areas, which might be of interest for future cooperation” he said.

“I must acclaim initiatives taken by the HEC for the development of higher education sector in Pakistan” he appreciated.

Further he said “Our focus is on academia linkages with industry, agriculture and other areas that are important for the socio-economic growth of the country.”

It was agreed that the new approach would be “cluster technology-research development” tying up universities and industries from both the countries.

Shahnaz said during an interview “We want to blend the university research with the market requirements, and for this purpose the young students and researchers are being encouraged to work on the areas of national and commercial importance.”

“We want to send more HEC scholars to New Zealand, especially in those fields where New Zealand has more expertise like dairy farming, livestock, agriculture, environmental science, social sciences and other such subjects,” she said.

Moin M. Fudda, Honorary Consul General of New Zealand for Pakistan, Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director, HEC and Dr. S. Mahmood Raza, Adviser (HRD) HEC were also present on the occasion.

When talked to HEC Executive Director Dr. Sohail H Naqvi said “the government has released an amount of $ 195.3 million adding out of it $ 96.4 million is meant for overseas scholarship scheme.

To a question, he said “there are around 340 students whose scholarships are put on hold adding most of these has secured admissions to universities of New Zealand, Italy, Germany and other European countries.”