Pakistani higher education leaders were given a guided tour of IGC in Incheon, Korea, which houses campuses from various US and European universities.
Vice Chancellors from Pakistani universities working with USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) recently visited the Republic of Korea to gain a better understanding of the high impact practises in academics, governance, and research that have made the ROK higher education system highly competitive and market driven.
The University of Utah organised the VCs study tour. The Pakistani higher education leaders were given a guided tour of the International Global Campus (IGC) in Incheon, Korea, which houses campuses from various US and European universities.
The VCs met with IGC management and university senior officials to learn how different international universities could collaborate under one umbrella to improve the effectiveness of the ROK education system in developing the next generation of global leaders in various fields.
The VCs also met with the President of Incheon National University in South Korea to discuss collaborations in higher education and student exchange programmes.
The delegation, which included VCs and rectors as well as officials from USAID and the University of Utah, also visited the Incheon Startup Park, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Korea’s first Silicon Valley-style technology space.
The participants observed how these spaces have evolved globally over the years and what their plans for future growth look like, as they housed over 30 tech startups. A three-day co-creation workshop focusing on the development of university-specific strategic and business plans was a key component of this international visit.
Leadership development for academic governance and business plan development is not yet institutionalised in Pakistan. Similarly, the majority of higher education institutions do not have a business plan, despite the fact that strategic planning is critical for university operations.
The workshop was divided into three modules: laying the groundwork for strategic planning, developing and implementing a strategic plan, and maintaining an integrated planning culture. All of the VCs were pleased with the well-organized study tour and praised USAID for its ongoing support to Pakistan’s higher education sector.