New Zealand envoy, Higher Education Commission discuss collaboration
Islamabad: Forty-eight Higher Education Commission (HEC)-funded scholars are studying at Massey University and 63 others at University of Auckland, New Zealand, said HEC Chairwoman Shehnaz Wazir Ali in a meeting with New Zealand High Commissioner Hamish MacMaster at Prime Minister's Secretariat on Wednesday.
She said the HEC was too cash-strapped in the ongoing fiscal year 2008-09 to support 326 selected candidates, however, it was expecting sufficient funds in fiscal year 2009-10 to support them for doctoral studies.
Of the 326 scholars, the HEC will send 85 to New Zealand in case of availability of funds, she said. She also discussed with MacMaster aspects of co-operation in the field of higher education and institutional linkages between the two countries.
Shehnaz, who is also advisor to the prime minister, informed him about Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) and desired to have research collaboration of the Pakistani universities with those of New Zealand through virtual connectivity.
She said currently the HEC was funding 2,825 scholars studying abroad and 3,765 studying in Pakistan. She said it was a big liability for the Pakistani government to fund the scholars for next five years.
MacMaster conveyed best wishes of University of Auckland and Massey University to Shehnaz for the HEC and their desire for continuation and expansion of scholarship programme. Daily Times
