The Cambridge Pakistan delegation held a stakeholder dinner earlier this week to bring together academic leaders, university faculty and alumni for a focused discussion on the future of higher education in Pakistan. The gathering underscored shared priorities around research, teaching and the growing role of technology in learning.
Professor Kamal Munir, Senior Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Cambridge, led the conversation and exchanged ideas with Cambridge faculty members and senior academics from LUMS, GIKI and NUST, alongside Cambridge alumni based in Pakistan. Uzma Yousuf, Country Director for Pakistan, welcomed attendees and reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting education initiatives across the country.
Mr Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, outlined his vision for strengthening Pakistan’s education system and highlighted the potential roles that partnerships with international institutions can play in that effort. The minister’s remarks emphasised practical collaboration to scale research capacity and improve learning outcomes.
In his address on the Future of Higher Education in the Age of AI, Professor Munir shared insights from the University of Cambridge’s pioneering work in AI and research and discussed how these innovations are shaping learning experiences worldwide. The presentation sparked conversations on responsible AI adoption, curriculum development and opportunities for joint research between UK and Pakistani universities.
Organisers noted that events like this are vital for translating dialogue into action, strengthening networks between Cambridge Pakistan partners and Pakistani institutions, and advancing collaborative projects that empower students and educators. The delegation’s visit reinforced the view that sustained partnership and knowledge exchange are central to building resilient, future-ready higher education in Pakistan.
