DNA
Islamabad/Peshawar, July 1: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) organized an orientation session entitled “Overview of the International HEI Ranking Framework and Strategies for Improving the International Ranking of Universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” at HEC Regional Centre Peshawar.
The session aimed to enhance the capacity of university representatives and equip them with insights into global higher education ranking systems and strategies for improving the international standing of universities in the province.
In his welcome address, Director/In-Charge HEC Regional Centre Peshawar, Engr. Nauman Ahmed Khan, underscored the growing importance of international university rankings in promoting academic excellence, research visibility, innovation, and institutional reputation. He emphasized that universities must adopt strategic measures to improve their performance in globally recognized ranking frameworks and reaffirmed HEC’s commitment to supporting higher education institutions in achieving international competitiveness and excellence.
The session was led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Usman Awan, Director, Institute of Quality and Technology Management (IQTM), University of the Punjab, and Convener of the Ranking Committee, who served as the resource person.
Drawing on his extensive experience in higher education quality assurance and university rankings, he delivered a comprehensive presentation on major international ranking systems, their methodologies, indicators, and emerging trends in global higher education assessment.
Dr. Awan provided participants with an in-depth overview of leading international ranking frameworks and the key performance indicators used to evaluate universities. He highlighted the significance of research productivity, citation impact, internationalization, academic reputation, industry engagement, innovation, and sustainable development initiatives in determining institutional rankings.
He also shared practical strategies and best practices for enhancing institutional visibility, strengthening research output, expanding international collaborations, and improving overall university performance.
The orientation session provided an interactive platform for meaningful discussions on ranking-related challenges and opportunities.
Representatives from public and private sector universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa actively participated in the deliberations and sought expert guidance on improving institutional performance across various ranking indicators.
The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment, followed by a vote of thanks to the resource person and participants for their valuable contributions.
