By Adnan Hameed TWA _____ The largest delegation of leading UK universities, education champions and experts led by the UK Government’s International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith, has embarked on a five-day visit to Pakistan starting from 22 April and ending on 26 April 2024. This significant visit aims to strengthen educational ties between the two nations and explore opportunities for long-term, collaborative partnerships that go beyond student recruitment. This visit builds upon the UK's commitment to international collaboration in higher education. The delegation co-organised by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the British High Commission, British Council in Pakistan, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Education (DfE), comprises of senior representatives from the UK government, British Council and from sixteen leaders of UK higher education providers and sector organisations who look forward to deepening, expanding and setting up new links with their Pakistani counterparts. The delegation will focus on developing areas like Transnational Education (TNE), joint research initiatives, and faculty development programmes. This visit prioritizes establishing mutually beneficial partnerships between UK and Pakistani universities. Sir Steve Smith, the UK Government’s International Education Champion said: "Building on the positive momentum of our work in Pakistan, I'm thrilled to lead this delegation. Pakistan's dynamic higher education sector boasts impressive growth, and we see immense potential for collaboration. We are committed to fostering partnerships that create a lasting impact through knowledge exchange and joint initiatives", says Press Note. Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan said: "The UK and Pakistan share a long history of educational exchange, and this visit signifies our unwavering commitment to strengthening these ties further. By working together, our universities can address global challenges, cultivate future-ready graduates, and contribute to the continued growth of Pakistan's higher education sector." The delegation will engage with a wide range of stakeholders throughout the visit, including: ● Representatives from leading Pakistani universities across the country ● Senior officials from the Federal Government and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan ● Education sector leaders and experts The visit aligns with the objectives of the Pakistan UK Education Gateway, a flagship programme launched in 2018. Funded jointly by the Government of Pakistan and the British Council, the Gateway facilitates collaboration across various areas, including those highlighted during the visit. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC said: ‘The landscape of higher education has transformed in Pakistan over last two decades based on the reforms implemented by HEC through unparallel support of the Government of Pakistan. While our universities are increasingly mapped on top universities of the world, research citation in top journals is rapidly improving and work on innovation and commercialization of research have demonstrated consideration improvements, a lot more is needed to improve students’ experiences and outcomes in terms of employability and international compatibility. Internationalization and collaborative work with the world leading universities is an important strategic priority of the HEC which aims to not only pitch Pakistan on the higher education and research arena of the world as an important destination for collaborative and mutually rewarding work but also provides as means of knowledge transfer, improve quality of learning and productivity of research, build governance and leadership potential, and enhance access to world’s best education at affordable cost. The visit of higher Education leaders for UK is a serious endeavour to co-work with UK universities on the basis of reciprocity for improvement of higher education, research and development. The TNE policy being launched aims at prompting access high quality international education to a wider society and advance social and economic development. We seek to deepen our partnerships with UK universities, undertake Mutual Recognition of Qualifications with the UK counterparts to promote credit transfer, students’ mobility, and swift movement of human resources across the two nations. I am confident that the visit will unfold huge opportunities for enhancing person to person and institution to institution cooperation on sustainable basis for mutual dividends. Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training ‘No nation in the world has progressed without investment on higher education and research. The Government of Pakistan is dedicated to propelling higher education forward and positively impacting people's lives through research commercialization, innovation, and collaborative partnerships among government, universities, industries, and society. The global challenges of social equity, climate change, inclusivity, peace, and harmony require international cooperation and concerted efforts. Pakistan's youth dividend presents a significant advantage if strategically harnessed. With the transformation of Pakistan's higher education sector led by the Higher Education Commission, our youth and academia are primed for development, innovation, and change. I urge all to embrace innovative approaches and collaborate with Pakistani institutions and young researchers to foster global development and peace.