Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched a nationwide mentoring program aimed at improving leadership and professional growth in universities. The initiative, announced on Tuesday, will support faculty members and academic leaders across both public and private institutions. It builds on an earlier mentoring program introduced for women universities in 2024.
The new Mentoring Program for Universities (MPU) has been developed through the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE). Officials say the goal is to strengthen leadership skills, encourage collaboration, and create a culture where experienced academicians guide and support others within the system.
Speaking at the launch ceremony held at the HEC Secretariat, HEC Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar said mentoring is essential for institutional growth. He noted that Pakistan’s academic sector already has many experienced professionals who can play a key role in guiding younger faculty members.
He added that the new program will help make better use of this expertise, allowing universities to benefit from shared knowledge and experience.
The initiative is an extension of HEC’s Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program, which was introduced in November 2024 for 18 women universities. According to NAHE Managing Director Dr. Noor Amna Malik, the earlier program trained around 890 mentors and mentees and proved to be a strong internal support system within universities.
Speaking on this occasion, Managing Director NAHE Dr. Noor Amna Malik shed light on the program’s background. She underlined the achievements of Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program.
“The initiative garnered huge success and repute, paving the way for its expansion to all the universities across the country,” she affirmed.
She added that the initiative will support emerging leaders in higher education sector by maximizing their potential, developing their skills and enhancing their performance. Dilating on the program modules, she said that NAHE has kept an open window for the universities to include need-based areas to solve their respective problems.
“The initiative proved to be a support system within our own ecosystem, as it has been institutionalised and internalised where people assist and uplift one another,” she emphasised.
Vice Chancellor Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Dr. Uzma Quraishi expressed her views on the impact of the Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program. She said the program established the need for mentorship in a professional setup, as it focused on personal and professional growth regardless of gender. She informed the audience that the program produced 240 mentors in three cohorts at LCWU who are now cascading their learning and making a difference.
She revealed that the initiative enables universities to include new modules in line with their own needs. She asserted that the initiative has great potential to transform the entire academic ecosystem by empowering the academicians and learners.
The HEC believes the program will play an important role in developing future academic leaders and strengthening the overall higher education system in Pakistan.
