HEC Launches Pakistan Qualification Register (PQR)

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has achieved another milestone by launching Pakistan Qualification Register (PQR) through e-portal system so that stakeholders of HEC can view online those programmes of Pakistani Universities/Degree Awarding Institutions that have been approved by HEC.

PQR is an online database which contains information regarding accredited higher qualifications and institutions recognized by HEC of all public and private sector universities including their sub campuses and affiliated as well as constituent colleges. PQR is aimed to provide clearly defined levels of knowledge, skills and competencies to be acquired by every graduate.

HEC started developing a Qualification Framework for higher education sector in 2009 and took necessary steps to develop tools for implementing the framework covering all HEC chartered public and private higher education institutions in the country.

PQF is a level-based and outcomes focused mechanism. It sets out the levels on which a qualification can be recognized in Pakistan. It encompasses a comprehensive list of all quality assured qualifications in Pakistan. Each accredited qualification has been assigned a level. It consists of Entry Level-1 to Level-8, describing the difficulty of qualifications at each level.

PQF has been structured to help learners to make informed decisions about the qualification required, and will help employers to assess what qualification a candidate has achieved. It will help in establishing the national standards of qualifications as well as provide a basis for comparison of qualifications at national as well as international levels. Further, it will help in international recognition of academic qualifications, facilitate trans-national mobility of graduates and learners, in addition to be used as an instrument for qualitative reforms in education system.

The first announcement for nomination of Focal Persons for PQR and populating the data by universities was made by HEC in October 2016. The response of universities on PQR has been encouraging and till date 144 HEC recognized universities and degree awarding institutions, out of total 183 institutions, have nominated their Focal Persons. It is worth mentioning that till date 15098 programmes have been listed in the PQR portal .

​The universities have been informed that PQR is going to be linked to HEC initiatives such as attestation system of degrees awarded by the universities, appointment of HEC approved supervisors, award of national research grants for universities, thematic research grants for social sciences, indigenous/overseas scholarships, etc.

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Karachi University acknowledges services of Dr Jaffar Ahmed

KARACHI: Speakers at a farewell event for the retired director of Karachi University’s Pakistan Study Centre, Dr Jaffar Ahmed, on Tuesday called him a precious asset for the KU whose services for research and academia would always be cherished.

“He [Dr Ahmed] is a great asset to the University of Karachi and his services will be remembered forever,” said KU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan, who presided over the event.

He said Dr Ahmed was a good teacher who remained in touch with students and worked for the betterment of society.

The event was organised by the Programme on Peace, Democracy and Intercultural Harmony in the university’s Arts Auditorium.

The VC said Dr Ahmed’s footprints would be visible in the university and he should be a role model for all students and the faculty.

Dr Khan, who has recently been appointed to lead the university, said he had accepted the challenge of bringing the KU out of all sorts of crises and with the support of faculty and staff “I am quite hopeful that I would be successful”.

The dean of the faculty of social sciences, Dr Moonis Ahmar, lauded the services of Dr Jaffar Ahmed and said he always fought over societal issues and never compromised on principles. “Our society needs enlightened people like Dr Jaffar.”

Dr Ahmed thanked the organisers and the VC and said associating with the KU was the life-changing decision when “I refused a job offer at Cambridge University after completing my PhD from there and came back to serve Pakistan and KU”.

All teachers, lecturers in FATA to be regularised

GHALANAI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Muzaffar Syed has said the services of all teachers and lecturers in the tribal areas would be regularised soon. He was speaking at a ceremony at the Ghalanai Jirga Hall here on Tuesday.

The minister said tribesmen had rendered countless sacrifices during militancy, and the government would compensate them for their contribution.

22 US Universities reps visit Millennium Campus

Staying true to its motto of academic excellence, Flagship Millennium Campus I-9/3, in collaboration with the United States Education Foundation Pakistan (USEFP) organised Educational Exhibition last day, says a press release.

About 22 different universities from the United States of America participated and promoted their education mission at the fair. The fair aimed at informing interested candidates about study opportunities abroad.

5-day workshop starts at NUML

A five-day workshop on ‘21st century Innovative Teaching Techniques & Strategies,’ kicked off at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), here on Monday.

The workshop was sponsored by Higher Education Commission and organised by the Department of Education. NUML Director General Brig Riaz Ahmed Gondal was the chief guest of the inaugural session while dean social sciences Dr. Sufiana Khatoon Malik, Head of Department Education Dr. Hukamdad Malik, resource persons Dr. Khushbakht Hina, Dr. Khalid Javed Anwar, faculty members from various universities were attended the session.

Kent University, and Bestway Foundation ink accord

University of Kent and Bestway Foundation Pledge £500k to Support Pakistani Students, says a press release.

The University of Kent and the Bestway Foundation, the charitable Trust of Bestway Group, have announced a new collaboration to jointly fund five annual scholarships for postgraduate students applying from Pakistan.

Disabled to get free education from AIOU

Physically handicapped and visually/hearing impaired students will continue to get free education from Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), with enhanced facilities including provision of study material through computerised accessibility network.

The number of disabled, enrolled with AIOU has recently reached to around 400, and it is hoped that more students will benefit from the educational facilities which are available from Matric to PhD

NAVTTC to train one lakh youths

To encourage women in the field of business and entrepreneurship for achieving economic stability, a meeting was held at National Vocational & Technical Training Commission Headquarters which was attended by executive director NAVTTC Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema, Founder President of Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce Samina Fazil, Vice President Robina Nazir and their team.

Educational institutions urged to focus on research

MARDAN: Secretary Industry and Commerce Department, Farah Hamid, on Monday said that higher educational institutions should focus on research and innovation.

Speaking at a seminar titled ‘National Research Week’ here at Women University Mardan as chief guest, the secretary said that development was impossible without the participation of women in every field of life.

Women University Vice-Chancellor Prof Ghazala Yasmeen said that the seminar was meant for creating awareness about importance of research for the female students.She said that Women University Mardan was playing its due role in imparting higher education to womenfolk of the province.

Tribal students protest suspension of scholarships

LANDI KOTAL: Traffic on Peshawar-Torkham highway remained suspended for two hours on Monday owing to a demonstration by the students from various government schools in Jamrud to protest suspension of their scholarships by the political administration.

Activists of various political parties also expressed their solidarity with the protesting students who had organised the demonstration on the call of the student wing of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Students don't learn anything even in schools

KARACHI: Beginning the session with the question of whether Pakistan is winning or losing the struggle to spread education, moderator Abbas Rashid said that whether or not students go to school does not matter, as they do not learn much in class, which is a reflection of the education standards in Pakistan.

He was speaking at a session, titled ‘Spreading education: Are We Winning or Losing the Struggle’, on the last day of the Karachi Literature Festival. “Even after going to school they are not learning anything,” he lamented.

Education for girls is govt's top priority

SUKKUR: Education and especially, girls education, is the top priority of the Sindh government, said the Sindh minister for transport and mass transit Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

He was addressing the annual function of award distribution at the Government Girls Degree College in Sukkur on Monday. Funds for acquiring land and construction of the building for a women’s university have been allocated, said Shah, adding that it is the government’s desire to provide graduate and post-graduate education to girls in their own hometown instead of other cities.

Position holder students given cash prizes, medals

CHARSADDA: The second and third position holders of Peshawar Model School’s Charsadda branch in the matriculation examination were awarded with prizes and medals here on Sunday.

A special function was held in the school, where 15 other students of the school were rewarded for being among the top 20 positions in the examination conducted by the BISE Peshawar.

Classes at Swabi's new medical college start today

SWABI: Classes at the newly-opened Gajju Khan Medical College (GKMC), Swabi, would commence on Monday (today).

Giving details, admission officer Bilal Khan and other officials said on Sunday that the faculty and staff had finalised all the arrangements to start classes in the college. The induction of the first batch of students in GKMC would mark a new era as the college was opened with the efforts of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government.