In order to make Pakistani universities safer, Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched e-courses on its policies on ‘Protection against Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)’ and ‘Policy for Students with Disabilities in HEIs’.
HEC launched e-courses in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the Australian High Commission in Pakistan. The e-courses will be hosted by the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) that will promote awareness and outreach of these policies.
New e-courses by HEC will help make universities safer, more inclusive
Moreover, while addressing the virtual launching ceremony, Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail said that the role of HEIs was influential to emphasize and promote the importance of practicing basic principles and high moral grounds.
In the ceremony, she informed the participants that two percent scholarships are specified for students with disabilities in the Prime Minister’s Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Programme.
She then expressed hope that the coordinated efforts will improve students’ overall academic accomplishments.
In his remarks, Resident Representative UNDP Knut Otsby asserted, “If we want to encourage the youth to stay in higher education and continue to make progress on the SDGs commitments to provide equal access to women to obtain a tertiary education, we must ensure that young people are able to attain education in a safe, culturally appropriate and equitable environment.”
Meanwhile, Deputy High Commissioner Joanne Frederiksen said that “This is an important step for promoting inclusion on campus. We are heartened by HEC leadership in this area, and encourage Vice-Chancellors to ensure faculty staff and students to complete the e-courses.”
Rector NAHE Dr. Shaheen Sardar Ali said that the Academy was a national institution for capacity building of academic leaders, faculty and staff. “One of the aspects of capacity building is to translate the rules and regulation into knowledge.”
