Graduation Ceremony of Higher Education Commission of Scholars held

Islamabad, June 26, 2012 (PPI-OT): The 4th Graduation Ceremony/Convocation of HEC Scholars was organized here at the auditorium of Higher Education Commission HEC Islamabad. The main objective of the ceremony was to confer degrees to the successful candidates of last two batches of MS Program Korea. H.E. Mr. Choongjoo CHOI, Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Pakistan graced the occasion as guest of honour.

The ceremony was attended by academicians, scholars and their parents. Executive Director HEC Prof. Dr. Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi said that Korea’s 95% higher education literacy rate, active university industrial linkages and technological developments are a role model for Pakistan. Keeping this fact in view, 200 young Pakistani engineers were sent for pursuing their higher studies in the advanced Engineering and Technological fields at 6 leading south Korean universities.

This joint collaboration between Pakistan and Korean universities has been greatly helpful in creating a critical mass of highly qualified Engineering Manpower in high-tech fields and building up the capacity of Universities/Industries in Pakistan.

Chairperson HEC, Dr. Javaid. R. Laghari thanked the Korean government in providing opportunities to young talented Pakistani engineers for doing research work at advanced research labs and reputed Korean universities. He stated that 45% of total HEC budget is being spent on human resource development in Pakistan.

The scarcity of funds will adversely affect this major component especially the need based scholarships awarded to the youth belonging to remote areas of Pakistan including Balochistan, FATA, interior Sindh and Southern Punjab. The Korean Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Choongjoo CHOI congratulated the young Pakistani scholars over completion of their degrees.

He also lauded the efforts of HEC for improving the standards in higher education sector of Pakistan. He also assured continuous cooperation and support of Korean government to Pakistan especially in higher education sector. One of the scholars expressing his views termed his studies at Korean universities a successful and pleasant experience.

“It was not possible without the support of HEC and the transparent and well defined scholarship award mechanism that has enabled a large number of Pakistani youth including myself to acquire higher education at leading foreign universities.

This program may be supported and continued at every cost”, he added. At the end of ceremony, the guest of honour distributed the degrees among the successful scholars recently returned from Korea.

For more information, contact:
Aayesha Ikram
Director (Media)
Higher Education Commission
Sector H-9, Islamabad
Tel: 90402404, 90402412
Email: aikram@hec.gov.pk
Website: www.hec.gov.pk