The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan hosted an online session titled ‘Erasmus+ Information Session for Pakistan’ on 19th December 2024, aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the Erasmus+ programme. The session focused on key Erasmus+ actions available for Pakistani higher education institutions (HEIs), including International Credit Mobility (ICM), Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), and Jean Monnet (JM) initiatives. Participants explored the numerous benefits of these actions, the application process, and the vast opportunities they offer for academic exchanges, training, and international collaboration.
The Erasmus+ Information Session featured a series of insightful discussions led by distinguished experts and scholars. The event commenced with welcome remarks from Mr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, Advisor, HRD Division, HEC, followed by keynote speeches from Mr. Philipp Gross, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, and Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, HEC.
The session on International Credit Mobility (ICM) was led by Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, Distinguished National Professor and Erasmus Mundus Visiting Fellow at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, alongside Ms. Fareena Feroze, Director of the Global Engagement Office at Aga Khan University, and Dr. Hassaan Khaliq Qureshi, Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, NUST, Islamabad.
The Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) segment featured Prof. Dr. Javed Ahmed, Director ORIC and Department of Computer Science, IBA Sukkur University, and Dr. Abi Waqas, Marie Curie Research Fellow at Tyndall National Institute, Ireland, and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro.
In the Jean Monnet Actions discussion, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Riaz Shad, Jean Monnet Chair at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, and Dr. Abiha Zahra, Jean Monnet Module Project Lead at Information Technology University, Lahore, shared insights on European studies and policy governance initiatives.
The session on Partner Search, Procedures for Funding, and Preparing Quality Proposals was conducted by Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco, Key Academic Expert for Centralized Support to Erasmus+ National Focal Points at the European Commission, providing valuable guidance on securing Erasmus+ grants.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed highlighted the transformative impact of the Erasmus+ programme for Pakistani students, offering scholarships, exchange programs, and internships. Notably, Pakistan has ranked first globally for the third consecutive year in Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) scholarship recipients, with 189 Pakistani students securing scholarships this year. He urged Pakistani universities to expand their participation beyond EMJM scholarships taking into account students perspectives but also institutional partnerships, and explore opportunities in capacity building in higher education, joint research projects, and academic partnerships with European institutions. These collaborations, he emphasized, would enhance Pakistan’s higher education standards and contribute to the development of a robust academic network.
Mr. Philipp Oliver Gross underscored the youth-centric approach of the Erasmus+ programme, which prioritizes engagement, connectivity, and empowerment. He noted that Pakistan, where over 70% of the population is under 35, holds immense potential to leverage Erasmus+ for socio-economic development. He further shared that the 2021-2027 Erasmus+ programme has allocated €26.2 billion to support mobility and cooperation worldwide. Since 2021, 31 Pakistani HEIs have participated in CBHE projects to support modernization, accessibility, and internationalization in higher education. Additionally, two Pakistani universities have received Jean Monnet grants, fostering European studies in the country. Mr. Gross expressed hope that more Pakistani universities will join the Erasmus+ network in the coming years.
Mr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, in his remarks, said that Erasmus+ is more than just a programme; it's a movement that has transformed the lives of millions of students, staff, and faculty members across Europe and beyond including Pakistan. Now, Erasmus+ has extended its wings beyond EU borders for inclusive world which is more interconnected and understanding. He reiterated that a session like this is an opportunity for the participants to connect with other prospective Erasmus+ participants.
The event concluded with remarks from Syed Faraz Hussain Zaidi, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels, followed by closing remarks, reinforcing the commitment to expanding Erasmus+ collaborations in Pakistan.
The session reinforced the growing collaboration between Pakistan and the European Union in higher education, signaling a strong commitment to expanding academic mobility, research partnerships, and institutional capacity-building initiatives.
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