ISLAMABAD: Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain inaugurated PhD Country Directory Online System at Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Secretariat Islamabad. Through launch of online system that can be accessed through https://eservices.hec.gov.pk/#/pcd, HEC’s conventional Ph.D. Country Directory (PCD) setup has been automated to improve efficiency in PCD registration process of Ph.D. scholars in Pakistan. Event held at HEC Secretariat was attended by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, Vice Chancellors of different universities and number of Ph.D. scholars.

PCD Online System, developed by HEC Higher Education Data Repository with help of Information Technology (IT) and other Divisions, will enable inclusion of Pakistani PhDs in HEC data, through university focal persons, within few days without submission of documents or applications in hard form. Earlier, PCD processes involving five stages took a Ph.D. scholar several months to be part of registered Ph.D. community of Pakistan. Rana Tanveer Hussain termed launch of PCD Online System commendable and hoped that development will benefit Ph.D. scholars in hassle-free manner. He highlighted importance of employing technology in institutional operations to make processes easier for public. He emphasised need for investment in human capital and underlined role of HEC in developing human resources for country.

Minister stated that development of higher education and marketable, need-based research is key to progress and prosperity of nation. He advised universities to establish special on-campus setups for promotion of skill-based education. He urged universities to enhance financial discipline, engage with industry, encourage entrepreneurship and turn Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORICs) into earning entities.

He urged Vice Chancellors to help HEC expedite delivery of services to academic community and students.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 12 2023

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