High-level deliberations began this week to finalise a new national framework set to overhaul how university research is evaluated, funded, and benchmarked in Pakistan, a flagship initiative developed in partnership with the United Kingdom.
According to a statement today, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the British Council have launched five days of intensive consultations on the development of a national Research Excellence Framework (REF). The programme, organised by the HEC’s Research and Innovation Division, is a key component of the Pak-UK Education Gateway.
A four-member expert delegation from the University of Sussex, acting as the lead technical consultant, is in Islamabad to engage with HEC leadership, academics, and policymakers. The UK team includes Prof. Jeremy Kenthall, Prof. Paul Nightingale, Ms. Mandy Samantha Crawford Lee, and Ms. Breda Maria Mostret.
The proposed REF is envisioned as a formula to assess the quality, impact, and integrity of academic inquiry to promote evidence-based funding and enhance global competitiveness. It aims to deepen academic collaboration and bring greater consistency and quality assurance to Pakistan”s research environment.
Tailored to national policy goals, the framework will serve as a unified model with transparent scoring and standardised evidence requirements. During an opening day briefing, experts outlined that the system aligns with global standards, particularly the UK”s own Research Excellence Framework.
It was revealed that a Steering Group and a dedicated REF Project Team have already been formed to oversee the project. The framework is currently in a pilot phase with selected higher education institutions (HEIs) to stress-test the proposed criteria and processes.
HEC officials engaged in the discussions stressed the necessity of a Pakistan-specific REF, stating the initiative shows a commitment to adopting international best practices while remaining sensitive to the national context.
The initial session focused on achieving consensus on a new ethics framework, including a governance model for the pilot stage, oversight mechanisms, and accountability structures to ensure the integrity of the evaluation process.
Throughout the week, technical sessions will be held to finalise the REF policy and the design of its pilot phase. The engagement marks a major step in aligning Pakistan”s research system with global standards and maximising the societal and economic impact of publicly funded research.