Vice Chancellors’ Conference 2025 Focuses on University Governance & Digital Transformation

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and the Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab have successfully hosted the Vice Chancellors’ Conference 2025, which aims to usher in transformative reforms in university governance, financial sustainability, quality assurance, and curriculum modernization. Held at Faletti’s Hotel, Lahore, the conference brought together 32 Vice Chancellors from public sector universities, business leaders, members of the VC Search Committee, and senior officials from HED and PHEC. The closing ceremony was graced by the Minister for Higher Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, who was the chief guest.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Ir. Dr. Amir Azam Khan played an active role in the conference, particularly as a part of the team that presented on the theme "Governance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)." His insights emphasized the need for transparent decision-making processes, strengthened institutional autonomy, and digital governance frameworks to enhance the efficiency of universities in Punjab. He highlighted the importance of modern governance practices in aligning higher education institutions with global standards.

Minister for Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, highlighted the significant reforms introduced by the current government in the education sector.

During the closing ceremony, Dr. Farrukh Naveed, Secretary HED/Chairperson PHEC, presented the conference’s key recommendations for transforming higher education in Punjab. These included implementing Institutional Performance Evaluations (IPE) and third-party audits for universities, linking performance-based funding to university rankings and achievements, and driving digital transformation of university processes to improve efficiency. Additionally, he suggested delegating statutory appointments to university syndicates or senates and restructuring the Registrar’s office to enhance administrative effectiveness.