ROMÂNĂ 
ENGLISH VERSION 
Undeterred by the sudden political riots that engulfed several cities in Republic of Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Steve O. Michael, Rector and CEO of Danubius University, proceeded with the travel arrangements to meet with the higher education leaders in Islamabad from May 11-16, 2023. The meeting with the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Republic of Pakistan was described as the first of its kind between Romania and Republic of Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, Higher Education Commission, along with his senior officials including Prof. Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission, welcomed Rector Michael to the HEC office. Rector Michael was accompanied by Georgeta Topciu and Stefan Vrabie of IDLC—Danubius Representative to Republic of Pakistan.
Providing a brief history of the Commission, Prof. Ahmed stated that “a new and ambitious journey to comprehensively reform Higher Education in Republic of Pakistan started with the establishment of [the] Higher Education Commission (HEC) in 2002.” He noted that the mission of the Commission was to propel the engine and socio-economic development of the country. The Commission serves as the executive arm of the government to coordinate and manage the affairs of the tertiary education. The Commission overseas quality assurance, higher education policy, as well as funding under the leadership of the Chairman who operates almost like the minister of education.
Professor Michael provided a brief history of Danubius University and the intention of the University to become a model of internationalized institution in Eastern Europe. “With my extensive international background, I could afford to retire early from the US where I had my training and university leadership experience, to lead Danubius University at this time toward its global vision.” Rector Michael further noted that his visit to Republic of Pakistan was to explore opportunities for collaboration with higher education institutions and leaders.
“I am interested also in how countries organize their higher education systems and especially how they are responding to an increasingly globalized environment,” stated Rector Michael. He said his travels across the globe provide opportunities for him to learn from higher education leaders. Professor Ahmed noted that the higher education system in Republic of Pakistan is expanding rapidly. “For example, we have 59 universities with enrollment of 276,274 students in 2002 and by 2014-15, the number has increased to 178 with enrollment of 1.3 million,” said Professor Ahmed.
The meeting ended with a pledge from Professor Ahmed to help Danubius connect with any university of interest in Republic of Pakistan.
