Islamabad:British universities are eager to open campuses and roll out online courses in Pakistan, said the British Council on Tuesday.
“British universities appreciate Pakistan’s progress in the education sector and intend to establish campuses and offer online courses for students who cannot afford to go abroad for higher studies," British Council Country Head James Hampson told federal minister for education and professional training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui during a meeting here.
A British Council delegation, Federal Secretary Education Nadeem Mahboob, Deputy Secretary Ammara Nasim, Senior Joint Secretary Aftab Rashid and Executive Director of the Inter-Board Coordination Commission Ghulam Ali Mallah also attended the meeting.
Hampson congratulated the minister and secretary on the successful Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ Conference, noting the importance of its agenda in strengthening coordination and advancing education-sector reforms.
The secretary briefed visitors on the key discussions and resolutions adopted at the meeting. The British Council country head outlined the range of services and support his organisation is providing in technical education across the provinces, as well as in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, and shared updates on ongoing initiatives and areas for future cooperation.
He reaffirmed British Council's support for expanding cooperation with the government, particularly in non-formal education, alongside existing engagement in technical and higher education.
It was also agreed to link educational institutions in underserved and slum areas with relevant technical and skills-development frameworks to improve quality assurance, certification and access to skills-based and non-formal learning opportunities for youth. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to further strengthening partnership for the advancement of education in Pakistan.
