The Vice Chancellor, University of Baltistan, Skardu (UoBS), Prof. Dr. Masood Akhtar, and Dean, Faculty of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ashfaque Ahmad Shah, are participating in the three-day training workshop titled ‘Strategic Planning and Leadership Excellence’ organized by the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.

The workshop commenced on August 18, 2026 and will conclude on August 20, 2026 at the National Institute of Business and Finance (NIBAF), Islamabad. It has brought together Vice Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors, Deans, and senior leadership of public sector universities from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), along with representatives from women universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Rawalpindi region.

The training aims to enhance strategic planning, institutional sustainability, resource mobilization, governance, performance management, digital transformation, and innovation in higher education.

Prof. Dr. Masood Akhtar appreciated HEC for providing such platforms for leadership development in higher education institutions. He reaffirmed UoBS’s commitment to academic excellence and collaborative development of higher education in Gilgit-Baltistan. He emphasized the need for strong leadership, effective governance, and robust industry-academia linkages to equip graduates with skills required for contemporary challenges.

The workshop was inaugurated by Ms. Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training. Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director NAHE, along with senior experts and resource persons, is facilitating the sessions.

The participation of UoBS leadership in this national capacity-building initiative reflects the university’s commitment to strengthening institutional leadership and contributing to higher education reforms in the region.