A detailed briefing was presented by the Higher Education Department, in which they revealed plans to develop three key institutions—Government College University, Government College for Women University, and the University of Engineering and Technology—as model campuses.
Prestigious foreign universities from the UK, South Korea, and Kazakhstan want to launch campuses in Punjab. Notable universities such as the University of London, Brunel University, University of Gloucestershire, and University of Leicester have shown strong interest.
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This initiative was warmly welcomed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, seeing it as a chance to boost Punjab’s global educational standing and offer local students world-class opportunities close to home.
Several key decisions were made during the meeting, including:
- College Management Councils: These councils will be established in public colleges to improve governance and ensure better institutional oversight.
- KPI-Based Evaluations: Vice Chancellors will be held accountable under a new system that will also assess faculty performance.
- Underperforming Colleges: A thorough report on colleges not meeting standards was requested by the Chief Minister to address issues swiftly.
- Education Vigilance Squad: A dedicated team will conduct surprise inspections to monitor student attendance, cleanliness, teaching quality, and discipline.
- Scholarship and Laptop Scheme: The CM Punjab Talented Scholarship and Laptop Scheme has received over 19,000 applications so far and will be enhanced to support more deserving students effectively.
- Strategic Plan 2025-2029: Innovation, research, digital learning tools, and knowledge-sharing will be the main focus of the upcoming higher education strategy.
- Autonomy and Governance: Reforms to grant more institutional autonomy and improve university management were endorsed.
- Higher Education Conference: Plans for Punjab’s first-ever conference dedicated to addressing challenges and fostering collaboration in higher education were approved by the Chief Minister.
Moreover, to identify inactive institutions and develop plans for their revival, a review of commerce colleges will be conducted.
This is a significant leap forward for Punjab’s higher education system. With international partnerships and a focus on accountability and innovation, students across Punjab can look forward to new opportunities and enhancements in education.
