ISLAMABAD: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Pakistan’s higher education institutions are taking significant steps to transform student support services across universities in Pakistan.
The initiative was aimed at equipping students with the essential skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive global environment, said a press release issued here on Monday.
Organized through USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA), the 3rd Annual Summit brought together more than 100 officials and faculty from 16 partner universities across Pakistan.
This four-day event highlights the strong partnership between the United States and Pakistan and underscores their shared commitment to improving access to quality higher education for all Pakistanis.
Dr. Mirza emphasized the need for universities to promote student belonging. “It is important that higher education institutions foster a sense of belonging and enable students to navigate and shape their future. When we gather at this summit, we will reaffirm our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every student can thrive,” she added.
In her remarks, Ms O’Brien emphasized the importance of soft skills, saying: “By prioritizing the building of soft skills, universities can better prepare students to meet the demands of the modern workforce and improve their career prospects.”
HESSA is implemented by the University of Utah and supports the Higher Education Commission and 16 partner universities across Pakistan to improve institutional capacity to manage market education and research in Pakistan.
The summit covered six thematic areas critical to supporting higher education institutions in Pakistan: financial aid, student leadership, student microenterprises, career readiness, alumni engagement and mental health. The first two annual summits in a row focused on student services and financial aid development.
