British Council and Higher Education Commission, Pakistan agree to strengthen PK – UK partnerships in research and education
The British Council in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission Pakistan celebrated the success of 35 Higher Education Links under the phase 2 of the HEC-BC Joint Higher Education Link Programme on 9th and 10th May 2010.
The festivities started with a colourful celebration of Pakistani Sufi heritage at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) on 9th May 2010; attended by the Chairman and officials from HEC, Vice Chancellors of partner Universities, link coordinators and their teams and many others. The event commenced with a powerful portrayal of the strong mystic culture in Pakistan and continued with renditions of mesmerizing Sufi Kalaam. Aimed at providing a networking platform to our contacts, the event was also symbolic of how cultures can transcend borders and connect people.
The next day was no less significant. 35 HEC- BC links along with other projects representing over 40 UK and Pakistani universities displayed their work in the form of an exhibition. The exhibition was a valuable platform for these links to showcase their work and achievements over the life of the project, to share stories of lasting impact in their field of study and on the society as a whole. According to one participant, “events like this help build relationships which form the basis of life long partnerships and helps people make a small yet a significant difference in the society.“
The impressive exhibition was inaugurated by the British High Commissioner, Adam Thomson, who later visited the stalls of the links along with the Chairman HEC, Dr. Javaid Laghari and other members; David Martin, Country Director British Council Pakistan; Nishat Riaz, Head of programmes, British Council Islamabad and other participants.
The exhibition was followed by the screening of a short documentary prepared by the British Council and HEC. The documentary captured the various inspiring success stories from the 35 HEC – BC links which have left a significant long term impact on their surrounding.
The documentary was followed by an agreement signed by the British Council and HEC to mark the beginning of the HEC – BC INSPIRE Strategic Partnerships which will pave way for more partnerships for sustainable impact. A key note was given by Lynne Heslop, Regional Education Advisor British Council, on the recently established INSPIRE strategic partnerships which, was launched last year, and later Nishat Riaz spoke more about the new Partnerships.
Another major highlight of the event was the award ceremony in which the link coordinators of HEC-BC links across Pakistan were acknowledged for their hard work and dedication to the successful implementation of these partnerships.
This event was an exemplary model of knowledge sharing and transference. One of the delegates from the Karachi University said at the event, “It is an example in itself. The impact of HEC-BC links is beyond all expectations and others should follow the partnership model of the British Council and HEC”.
Although the triumphant celebration marks the end of the HEC-BC links, we also embark on a new journey of partnerships with the aim of facilitating more meaningful collaborations to improve the higher education sector in Pakistan.
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