EU Backs National Summit on Online and Distance Learning in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – The European Union has reaffirmed its support for digital innovation in Pakistan’s higher education sector by backing the National Summit on Online and Distance Learning, held under the EU-funded RAPID Project through Erasmus+.

Speaking at the event, the EU Delegation’s Chargé d’affaires, Philipp Oliver Gross, highlighted the importance of the initiative, describing it as more than just a program milestone. “The National Summit today is not just a programmatic milestone, it is a vivid demonstration of how digital innovation, resilient policies, and international partnerships can come together to strengthen Pakistan’s higher education system and prepare it for the future,” he said.

The RAPID Project is designed to transform online education across Pakistan by linking the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and top universities—including SIBAU, IBA Karachi, and LUMS—with remote institutions in Balochistan, Turbat, and Baltistan. The project also leverages the expertise of European partners to ensure quality, innovation, and international best practices.

Officials noted that the initiative is bridging the gap between urban and remote educational institutions, aiming to make distance learning more accessible, resilient, and globally competitive.

The EU congratulated all partner institutions and stakeholders for driving forward what it described as a transformative shift in Pakistan’s higher education landscape.