In a significant move to address data discrepancies from universities that impact national policy, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched a nationwide training initiative, with its latest session inaugurated in Lahore for institutions with affiliated colleges. This campaign aims to resolve issues of inaccurate and incomplete data frequently required by top government offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office and Federal Ministries.
According to HEC statement today, the three-day capacity-building event in Lahore is the latest in a countrywide series organized by HEC’s Higher Education Data Repository (HEDR) Division. Previous training sessions have been successfully conducted in Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, and Multan to bolster coordination with higher education institutions (HEIs) and ensure the submission of reliable data.
The program is structured over three days, with the first day focused on capacity building for data related to affiliated colleges for the fiscal years 2023-25. The second day is reserved for follow-up sessions with HEIs that have previously submitted incomplete data or information with discrepancies, while the final day is dedicated to providing further technical assistance.
Addressing the 31 university focal persons at the inaugural session, Ghulam Nabi, Director General of the HEC Regional Centre in Lahore, underscored the strategic importance of credible data for making informed policy decisions. Dr. Bashir Khan, In-charge of the HEDR Division, reiterated this point, explaining that dependable statistics are consistently requested by high-level forums for evidence-based governance.
During the workshop, the HEDR team delivered a detailed presentation on data templates concerning affiliated colleges, covering key metrics such as enrolment, faculty, graduates, and staff. The team offered direct, hands-on guidance to the participants, assisting with data compilation, validation, software installations like Office 365, and resolving technical challenges.
This ongoing national effort signifies the HEC’s commitment to enhancing higher education data governance throughout Pakistan by fostering collaboration, building institutional capacity, and promoting transparency.