The USAID Funded Higher Education Commission-Financial Aid Development (HEC-FAD) is a three year program being implemented by Academy for Educational Development (AED). The purpose of the program is to provide technical assistance in both financial aid and fund raising. The HEC-FAD is working with the HEC and the 11universities involved in Phase 1 of the USAID Merit and Needs Based Scholarship Program to enhance their capacity in both areas. We shall complement our technical assistance by sending up to 75 key and appropriately qualified staff members of HEC and partner universities on study tours to institutions or programs in the USA to gain first-hand experience of successful programs and learn from established professionals in each area.

The HEC-FAD Program’s activities will yield two results:  a national financial aid system for higher education in Pakistan, and sustainable offices of development in the partner universities so that by the end of the 3rd year of the program they will be able to continue operations and generate funds to support financial aid and other programs. Parallel with these priorities, the HEC-FAD Program will concentrate on identifying and developing opportunities for public-private partnerships and international linkages to expand HEC’s ability to attract resources to enhance academic programs and services for Pakistan’s students.

Our strategy is heavily focused on creating collaborative and sustainable environment under which the Higher Education Commission and both public and private universities will work to enhance financial aid programs and also begin to create an infrastructure and culture for raising private resources. We shall assist HEC and the universities to assess current programs, agree on appropriate structures, policies, MIS systems, and procedures for financial aid and fund raising; assist with the hiring of staff to support work at the HEC and campus level; and monitor the hiring process to ensure transparency and merit-based decisions. After the staff has been identified or hired the HEC-FAD program will provide regular in-country training for them as a prelude to study tours in the USA.

Among its other priorities, the HEC-FAD Program seeks to bring higher education into wide-ranging discussions with the private and corporate sector to begin a national dialog that will lead to an action agenda for regular interaction and close collaboration. This process will yield greater understanding of the needs and priorities of both sides. It will also—through open and candid discussions—stimulate the development of policies, programs and partnerships that will help higher education respond more effectively to national priorities for economic and social development.  On the basis of this interaction Pakistan’s universities, business and corporations will be able to establish sustainable partnerships that will, in the long run, produce a greater diversity of resources to support higher education in Pakistan.