FJWU Dr Bushra Urges Budget Reforms to Support Women’s Higher Education
News Desk
Rawalpindi: In a major push for gender-equitable investment in higher education, Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), in collaboration with the All Pakistan Women Universities Consortium (APWUC) and the British Council Pakistan, hosted a high-level Round Table Discussion titled “Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Investing in Women’s Universities through Policy, Funding, and Partnerships.”
The hybrid event was chaired by Prof Dr Bushra Mirza (Pride of Performance, Tamgha-i-Imtiaz), Vice Chancellor FJWU and Chairperson APWUC.
The forum focused on two key agenda items: unified advocacy for enhanced funding under the Federal Budget 2025–26 and strengthening outreach through strategic partnerships to build institutional capacity.
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In her keynote address, Dr Bushra Mirza highlighted the urgent need for equitable funding for women-focused higher education institutions.
She underscored unique operational challenges faced by women’s universities, including shortages in student hostels, limited faculty accommodations, and gender-specific admission constraints. Calling for a revision of the HEC budget allocation formula, she urged for policies that better reflect the realities of these institutions.
Dr. Mirza also stressed the importance of nurturing a strong academic culture, especially in newly upgraded universities transitioning from colleges. She advocated for the recruitment of qualified faculty, the establishment of research laboratories, and the development of purpose-built infrastructure to meet national quality standards and accreditation requirements.
She further proposed that APWUC be used as a platform for collaborative initiatives such as joint conferences, training workshops, and shared resource programs.
Acknowledging the continued support of the British Council, Dr Mirza called for the expansion of public-private partnerships to diversify funding and enhance institutional resilience.
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Dr Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) and Co-Chair of APWUC, reaffirmed HEC’s commitment to supporting women’s universities while preserving their autonomy.
She emphasized collaboration over duplication and encouraged institutions to build on each other’s strengths to achieve greater impact. Dr Malik also praised the increasing support of male Vice Chancellors for APWUC’s mission.
Nishat Riaz, Chief Executive Pakistan of the Malala Fund, urged universities to identify and leverage their unique strengths. She emphasized the need for national and international collaborations to explore new avenues for resource generation and institutional development.
Maarya Rehman, Deputy Country Director of the British Council Pakistan, reiterated the British Council’s commitment to the advancement of higher education in Pakistan. She highlighted the Pak-UK Gateway Programme as a key opportunity for institutions to showcase innovation, strengthen global linkages, and access new funding streams.
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The event concluded with a strong consensus on the need for a unified and collective voice to advocate for women’s higher education at the highest levels of government and within HEC leadership. Participants agreed that solidarity among women’s universities is crucial to advancing a shared vision for inclusive and sustainable higher education in Pakistan.
The Round Table brought together Vice Chancellors and senior representatives from 18 women’s universities across the country, marking a significant step toward policy reforms and strategic partnerships to empower women’s institutions nationwide.
