The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as part of its Higher Education System Strengthening Activity, facilitated a strategic planning discussion involving vice chancellors from 16 Pakistani universities.

University administrators from the public sector gathered to discuss the strategic plans that each institution is creating and engaging in the discussion to reflect on top academic, research, and governing practices in order to launch their institution-specific strategic planning.

The University of Utah's Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA), which supports its partner universities in enhancing their institutional and technical capacities for strategic planning, brings together a vast international network of knowledgeable college and university planners.

Ms. Maura O'Brien, Deputy Mission Director USAID/Pakistan, Dr. Michael Barber, University of Utah, and Dr. Aslam Chaudhry, Chief of Party HESSA, presided over the inaugural session of this two-day conference.

The vice chancellors started creating their university strategic plans at the event. They will activate planning teams on their campuses during the next few weeks to complete strategic planning.

"The Higher Education System Strengthening Activity is exceptional in its ability to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between Pakistani and American universities, enabling them to collectively address common challenges through strategic thinking."

Dr. Aslam said, "This initiative will improve the overall performance of Pakistani universities through comprehensive strategic planning." And in concluding remarks, Dr. Michael Barber quoted, "We are delighted to execute the Higher Education System Strengthening Activity program on behalf of USAID and will continue to collaborate with the Higher Education Commission to enhance the higher education sector and make its programs more responsive to market demands, resulting in improved graduate employability."