FPCCI Calls For Stronger Academia-industry Ties To Bridge Pakistan’s Skills Gap
FPCCI (Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry) has called for stronger and structured collaboration between academia and industry to bridge Pakistan’s widening skills gap, improve graduate employability and prepare the country’s youth for the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
This call was made at an Academia-Industry Forum titled “Skilling Pakistan: Challenges and Learning from Best Practices,” hosted by the FPCCI President Secretariat in collaboration with various organizations.
Key Takeaways:
- Alignment of Education with Market Needs: Participants emphasized the need to align higher education with evolving market requirements and strengthen practical learning opportunities for students.
- Prominent Speakers: The event featured leading educationists, policymakers, industry representatives, and university heads, including FPCCI Vice President Tariq Mehmood Jadoon, FPCCI Capital Office Chairman Karim Aziz Malik, and HEC (Higher Education Commission) officials.
- Best Practices: A documentary on Atlas Vocational Training Institute was screened, highlighting its contribution to technical and vocational education. Participants examined successful models of skills development, university-industry partnerships, business incubation, and work-integrated learning from institutions like the Pak Austria Institute, Government College University Faisalabad, Honda Atlas, Health Services Academy, and Rawalpindi Women University.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh stressed that bridging the skills gap is essential for Pakistan’s economic survival in the modern era. He called for:
- Transforming universities into innovation hubs.
- Integrating artificial intelligence and advanced technologies into higher education.
- Joint research initiatives between universities and businesses.
- Upgrading corporate laboratories.
- Market-driven curriculum reforms.
Speakers agreed on the need for permanent communication channels between universities and businesses to ensure a continuous supply of skilled talent.