Federal Environment Minister Sherry Rehman, addressed the participants of an international summit on higher education organized by the USAID-funded HESSA, stressed to find the link between higher education and climate change resilience.
Federal Climate Change Minister, Sherry Rehman, addressed the final session of an international summit on higher education organized by the USAID-funded Higher Education System Strengthening Activity, stressed to find the link between higher education and climate change resilience.
The experts emphasized the need for more interdisciplinary research and knowledge, both on the prediction side and on the adaptation front. Addressing the participants, the Minister said that Pakistan is among the most climate affected countries in the world and has been affected by massive floods many times in the recent past.
Speaking at the occasion, the Federal Education Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, mentioned the importance of realigning Pakistan’s higher education system with emerging needs and trends in an ever-changing socio-economic landscape.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 3-day summit, which included the HEC leadership, a Utah State Senator, government officials, and representatives from different public and private sector universities.
The summit brought together approximately 40 national and international experts from various fields to speak to about 160 participants. The summit served as a means for establishing a community of practice among higher education institutions and to launch subsequent policy dialogues to enrich the higher education policymaking process.
Sessions focused on improving the market value of degree programs, including dialogues on challenges and opportunities, how practices differ among Pakistani universities, and how they align with international best practices.
A key topic was the effects of the recent floods on the higher education sector and how to advance climate education at different levels.
In her closing speech, the HEC Executive Director, Dr. Shaista Sohail said, “the summit has generated useful recommendations for elevating the impact of higher education towards improving workforce development. The HEC will examine aligning these recommendations with ongoing and planned initiatives.”
Taking stock of the summit proceedings, US Senator Keith Grover congratulated academia and the private sector for their active participation.
He said, “Through these coordinated efforts across all sectors, the role of universities can be enhanced to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the adverse impacts of climate change.”
USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman said, “We will continue to work together for sustainable solutions to strengthen Pakistan’s higher education ecosystem, particularly in the areas of research and policy reforms.”
He also expressed USAID’s commitment to humanitarian assistance in response to the floods and to working closely with the Government of Pakistan to reach the most marginalized communities.
The University of Utah and its sub-partners, the University of Alabama and the Institute of International Education in New York, is implementing USAID-funded Higher Education System Strengthening Activity in collaboration with 16 Pakistani public sector universities and other stakeholders, with a focus on strengthening universities’ capacity to deliver market-driven education and research to enhance graduate employability.