Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi

Medium Term Development Framework 2011 - 15 Page 8 of 80
3.
INTRODUCTION: THE CONTEXT
The Higher Education Commission was established in 2002 for the improvement and promotion of higher education, research and development in Pakistan. The MTDF-HE II, is based intrinsically on Vision 2030, the strategic framework approved by the Government of Pakistan for meeting the contemporary and future challenges through accumulation of knowledge and collective competence. The vision acknowledged the importance of globalization and dispersion of information and technology, which are likely to dramatically change the scale and character of human enterprise. It emphasized the conversion of knowledge into a socioeconomic enterprise that should transform the marketplace, the quality of its processes and products and the productivity of our human resource. The acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and the quest for excellence were attributed as the driving force of the future destiny.
For achieving the goals of human development and of transition to a knowledge economy, HEC adopted the strategy targeted at the provision of an environment conducive to quality education in all the higher education institutions through faculty and infrastructure development, support to the faculty and students for teaching and research, and through brining equity, quality, transparency and efficiency in the operation of higher education institutions. The first five year medium term development framework, launched in 2005 identified access, quality and relevance as the key challenges facing the sector at that time. Programs were launched to support original research at universities, align the academic program structure to the three tier bachelor, master and doctoral program structure implemented in the rest of the world, and ensure adherence to internationally benchmarked quality standards and processes.
The interventions introduced by HEC in MTDF 2005-10 have largely been successful as the higher education sector has experienced an unprecedented expansion and the improvement in quality of learning and research during this period. The challenge facing us, now, is to take the reforms agenda further by expanding our horizon and committing religiously to achieving the knowledge goals set out for Pakistan in Vision
2030. The demographic transition being experienced by us poses another challenge to equip our youth with the knowledge and skills necessary for development in the st century. The fact that Pakistanis on a favorable portion of the demographic transition

Medium Term Development Framework 2011 - 15 Page 9 of 80 can prove to be a demographic dividend however if left alone, poses serious threats inform of an illiterate and intolerant population. The HEC focus will now be on sustaining the gains in areas of faculty development, quality improvement, and maximizing the opportunities for acquisition of quality higher education. However, being cognizant of the fact, that collective capacity of a country to learn depends not only on individual or aggregated human capital but also on innovation and the social capital measures are to be introduced for promoting innovation and enhancing integration of higher education sector to the society and community. The learning will not only be linked to the current and future priority areas for development but to the community and society as well. The universities will be transformed into centers building economies, communities and leadership. The Higher Education sector will be facilitated to step out of isolation, become more self-reliant and able to engage the stakeholders for having them play their due role in the development of Pakistan.
MTDF HE I covering the period 2005-10 focused on the internal development of the Institutions of Higher Learning as world class centers of learning and research. MTDF HE II goes a step further to link this development to the society and industry. Universities building leadership, communities and economies will truly serve as an engine of growth for the socioeconomic development of Pakistan.

Medium Term Development Framework 2011 - 15 Page 10 of 80

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