President Dr Arif Alvi says online education and industry experts’ inclusion in advisory boards of universities are essential for speedy progress and development of the country.

In a follow-up briefing on International Islamic University in Islamabad on Thursday, he called upon the universities to activate their senates to perpetually provide visionary and strategic guidance, in addition to setting up Advisory Boards with members from industry, manufacturing, agriculture and services sectors.

He said this would help them to continuously improve upon their curricula and to undertake focused research and development activities.  

The President emphasized that universities, in addition to four-year degree courses and PhD programmes, should also offer short skill-based degrees and diploma programs framed and modulated in coordination and input from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and industry leaders to increase the supply of skilled and educated human resources to speedily narrow the supply and demand gap.