SI Expo Fireside Chat 1

Preparing for Industry 5.0: Universities, Telecom and the Future of Pakistan’s Digital Economy
For the Higher Education Commission and Universities

• The Higher Education Commission (HEC) should create a national framework of structured AI courses and certificates so that graduates know how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI), with consistent standards of quality and relevance across universities.
• HEC and universities should build new technologies into what is taught in every discipline, as part of broader knowledge reforms suited to a disruptive age.
• HEC should invest in institutions and faculty by retraining existing staff and developing skilled trainers to design and deliver the training framework.
• There is a national need to raise the quality and relevance of PhD recruitment so that qualified and relevant faculty enter universities.
• Promote AI carefully and responsibly. AI adoption should take account of institutional readiness, availability of skilled teachers and responsible use.

• University curricula and training should be in line with industry needs. Universities and the engineering industry should coordinate on curricula and training, so that Pakistan produces capable graduates rather than simply more graduates.
• Build on existing connectivity through university-telecom collaboration. Considerable connectivity already exists. The next phase of collaboration between universities and telecom should focus on infrastructure, faculty capacity and institutional resources.
• Support a need-based research culture. Government should strengthen cooperation and coordination among government, universities, research and development institutes and industry, so that research responds to national needs.