The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and Aga Khan University (AKU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to host the IGNIT3 online nutrition courses on the Learning Management System (LMS) of HEC’s National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE).
According to information released by the HEC today, the agreement formalizes a collaboration aimed at strengthening the capacity of university faculty engaged in the nutrition and nursing disciplines across the country. The MoU was signed by Dr. Salim Virani, Professor and Vice Provost for Research at AKU, and Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE.
Under the partnership, AKU has provided seven SCORM-compliant nutrition courses for hosting on the NAHE LMS. The courses cover foundational nutrition concepts, nutrition assessment, the management of malnutrition, intersectoral issues, climate change, and gender. They are designed for faculty members, including Lecturers, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, Professors, Demonstrators, Instructors, Senior Instructors, and Directors.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman of HEC, appreciated the AKU team for its support and called for more such collaborations on strategic matters. He also stressed the need to integrate such content into the academic curriculum.
Prof Dr Zia ul Haq, Executive Director of HEC, acknowledged the role of the AKU leadership and staff in providing the course content and support. He emphasized the need to raise public awareness about nutrition-related issues and added that these courses could, in the future, be offered to university students.
Dr Noor Amna Malik said that the partnership reflects HEC’s commitment to enhancing faculty development through innovative digital learning opportunities and strategic collaborations with leading national and international institutions.
Prof Dr Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Distinguished National Professor, thanked everyone in attendance and appreciated the efforts of all the parties that made the collaboration successful. He expressed hope that the Pakistan-specific IGNIT3 courses would help build a nutrition-literate workforce across the country.
The partnership reflects HEC’s continuing efforts, through NAHE, to expand accredited continuing professional development opportunities for university faculty and align academic capacity-building with national priorities in maternal, newborn, and child health. The MoU will remain in effect until March 31, 2029.