USAID's Higher Education System Strengthening Activity "Newspaper Cuttings"

 

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USAID Supports Strategic Planning at 16 Pakistani Universities

 

Islamabad, October 23, 2023: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Higher Education System Strengthening Activity, organized a strategic planning dialogue for Vice Chancellors of 16 Pakistani universities. Leaders from the public sector universities gathered to share the strategic plans that each university is developing. During the dialogue, university leaders reflected on best practices in academia, research, and governance to kickstart their institution-specific strategic planning.

The Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA), implemented by the University of Utah, brings together an extensive international network of experienced college and university planners to support its partner universities in strengthening their institutional and technical capacities for strategic planning.

The opening session of this 2-day event was chaired by Ms. Maura O’Brien, Deputy Mission Director USAID/Pakistan, alongside Dr. Michael Barber, University of Utah, and Dr. Aslam Chaudhry, Chief of Party HESSA.

During the event, Vice Chancellors began developing their university strategic plans. Over the next few weeks, Vice Chancellors will activate planning teams on their campuses to complete strategic planning.

Speaking at the event, USAID’s Deputy Mission Director Maura O’Brien said, “What makes the Higher Education System Strengthening Activity uniquely powerful is that it brings together both Pakistani and American universities to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and think strategically to solve shared challenges.”

Dr. Aslam Chaudhry, Chief of Party and Research Professor at University of Utah, appreciated USAID’s partnership with the Pakistani government on higher education. Speaking at the event, Dr. Aslam said, “This activity will advance the organizational performance of Pakistani universities based on integrated strategic planning.” Dr. Michael Barber, Professor at University of Utah, said, “We are pleased to implement the Higher Education System Strengthening Activity program on behalf of USAID and will continue to work with Higher Education Commission to advance the higher education sector and make its programs more demand-driven for better graduate employability.”

For more information on USAID/Pakistan’s support in the education sector, visit: usaid.gov/pakistan/education

 

Strategic Plan Meeting Chaired by Prof. Dr. Zahoor ul Haq Brings Deans, HoDs, and HoS Together

 

In a decisive move towards advancing the University's strategic direction, Prof. Dr. Zahoor ul Haq, esteemed chairperson, presided over an essential meeting on October 5, 2023. The gathering brought together all Deans, Heads of Departments (HoDs), and Heads of Schools (HoS) to deliberate on the University's comprehensive Strategic Plan.

During the meeting, attendees engaged in constructive discussions regarding the strategic initiatives essential for the University's growth and development. The participants examined various aspects of the plan, including academic enhancements, research priorities, faculty development, and infrastructural improvements.

Prof. Dr. Zahoor ul Haq emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts and encouraged innovative ideas that align with the University's mission and vision. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with a shared commitment among the attendees to implement the strategic initiatives effectively.

The University anticipates that the outcomes of this strategic meeting will pave the way for transformative changes, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for the institution and its stakeholders.

 

Newspaper Cuttings: Collaborative Progress and Strategic Planning: USAID's HESSA Initiative Review Meeting

 

Collaborative Progress and Strategic Planning: USAID's HESSA Initiative Review Meeting at AWKUM Hosted by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zahoor ul Haq

 

Professor Dr. Zahoor ul Haq, the Vice-Chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, recently hosted a gathering of partner universities involved in USAID's Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The meeting, attended by distinguished figures including Professor Dr. Hassan Sher, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Swat, and Professor Dr. Nasir Jamal Khattak, Vice-Chancellor of Swabi Women University and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, focused on evaluating the progress of the HESSA initiative.

During the meeting, Dr. Aslam Chaudhry, Chief of Party-HESSA, led a delegation from USAID, engaging in discussions with Vice-Chancellors and faculty members from universities that had participated in various HESSA training programs. The deliberations centered on the accomplishments of the program over the past two years, including international study tours to the University of Utah, USA, benefiting Pakistani faculty members from 16 partner universities. More than 400 university officials have received valuable capacity-building support through the USAID-HESSA program, contributing to the enhancement of the higher education ecosystem and the production of skilled graduates.

Looking ahead, the participants were briefed on the strategic and business planning process for universities. Each HESSA partner university will establish a dedicated planning team, which will receive training from international experts on developing and implementing strategic plans. The meeting also involved discussions about the proposed plan for the third year of project implementation, encompassing feedback on improvements to the HESSA training programs' structure. The suggestions and recommendations gathered will be integrated into the program framework, with input from the academic leadership of all HESSA partner universities.

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