HEC Concludes FLAME 2025, Celebrating Nationwide Faculty Development and Women Empowerment in Higher Education

Islamabad – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan concluded its flagship conference Faculty Leadership & Management Excellence (FLAME) 2025 on Wednesday, highlighting the success of the National Outreach Program—an ambitious nationwide initiative to enhance faculty and management capacities across 85 public sector universities. Launched under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project and executed by the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), the initiative has directly benefited over 4,000 academic and administrative professionals through tailored training and mentorship programs.

The two-day conference was opened by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Mr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, with Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani presiding over the closing ceremony. Dignitaries including Governor of Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail and numerous university Vice Chancellors attended the event.

At the heart of the conference was the celebration of the National Outreach Program, designed by NAHE to deliver high-quality professional development opportunities to university campuses across the country. The program featured two key components: faculty training and management capacity-building. A total of 66 faculty training sessions and 45 management development programs were organized, alongside a three-month mentorship pilot under the Women Empowerment and Mentorship Program (WEMP), conducted in 18 women’s universities.

Tier-I faculty development initiatives reached 71 universities, equipping Lecturers and Assistant Professors through intensive four-week programs. Additionally, 50 universities conducted five-day training programs for early-career administrative staff, including Assistant Registrars, Controllers, and Treasurers.

In his keynote address, Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani commended HEC, NAHE, and HEDP for institutionalizing a culture of professional development in higher education. Emphasizing the nation-building role of academia, he remarked that universities are vital to shaping future generations and called for a collective commitment to educational excellence. He particularly praised the WEMP initiative, asserting that the full socio-economic potential of Pakistan cannot be realized without empowering women.

Federal Minister Siddiqui echoed these sentiments, noting the urgent need for an education system aligned with national demands and emphasizing the importance of skill-based learning. He stressed that firm political will and strategic direction are crucial to driving meaningful progress.

Governor Mandokhail underscored the transformative potential of initiatives like FLAME-2025 in fostering academic excellence and effective governance. He emphasized the need to maximize the contributions of Pakistani PhD holders and called for inter-university collaboration to bolster national unity and sovereignty.

Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed called education, research, and innovation the cornerstones of Pakistan’s survival and progress. He urged substantial investment in higher education to unlock the vast potential of Pakistan’s youth and to position local graduates as global contributors. He also highlighted the global demand for qualified faculty, reinforcing the need to continue nurturing academic talent at home.

HEDP Project Coordinator Mr. Awais Ahmad emphasized that the National Outreach Program plays a critical role in enhancing faculty expertise and academic governance, aligning directly with Pakistan’s goals of quality and competitiveness in higher education.

The conference featured two major plenary sessions: one on faculty and management leadership development, and another on women’s empowerment in higher education. Academic leaders praised NAHE’s well-structured training modules and emphasized the importance of program continuity. Participants lauded WEMP for fostering confidence, collaboration, and long-term professional growth among women faculty across Pakistan.

Managing Director NAHE Dr. Noor Amna Malik closed the event with a heartfelt vote of thanks, recognizing the tireless efforts of the NAHE team, trainers, mentors, and universities. She noted that the National Outreach Program has catalyzed meaningful changes in the academic ecosystem and reaffirmed NAHE’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of professional development.