USAID And Pakistani Universities Partner to Empower Students
— July 8, 2024
ISLAMABAD (AIA) The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Pakistani higher education institutions are collaborating to transform student support services across universities in Pakistan.
The initiative aims to equip students with the essential skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive global environment, according to a news release issued Monday.
The third annual summit, organized through USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA), brought together over 100 officials and faculty from 16 partner universities across Pakistan. This four-day event highlights the robust partnership between the US and Pakistan, highlighting their commitment to providing quality higher education to all Pakistanis.
Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza, Member (R&D) of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, and Maura O’Brien, USAID Deputy Mission Director, chaired the opening session of the event.
Dr. Mirza, emphasizing the need to cultivate a sense of belonging in students, stated, “It is important for higher education institutions to encourage a sense of belonging and enable students to plan and shape their futures. As we gather at this summit, let’s reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments where every student can thrive.”
O’Brien highlighted the importance of soft skills, stating, “By prioritizing soft skills building, universities can better prepare students to meet the demands of the modern workforce and enhance their career prospects.”
The HESSA activity, implemented by the University of Utah, supports the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and 16 partner universities across Pakistan to improve institutional capacity to drive market-led education and research.
The summit covered six thematic areas vital to the support of higher education institutions in Pakistan: financial aid, student leadership, student microenterprises, career readiness, alumni engagement, and mental health.
The US remains committed to strengthening higher education in Pakistan and empowering all Pakistanis through quality education. The first two summits in this series focused on student services and financial aid development.
For more information, visit: usaid.gov/pakistan/education.