Regional roundtable explores how universities can build belief, character, leadership, institutions and civilization
Peshawar
Vice Chancellors, Rectors and senior academic leaders from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa met today at CECOS University, Peshawar, for a regional roundtable of the 7th Rectors’ Conference. The Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) is organizing the conference, powered by the Chaudhry Abdul Khaliq Center for Contemporary Islamic Sciences (CAKCCIS), Superior University. The main conference will take place on 11–13 December 2026.
The roundtable was held under the conference theme “Redefining Success: From Belief, to Character, to Leadership, to Institution, and Civilization.” Participants asked a central question: what does it ultimately mean for a university to succeed?
The discussion was based on the conference working paper. It notes that Pakistan has made real progress on conventional measures. The country now has 278 universities, about 2.39 million students, and 18 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The paper argues that rankings, publications and employability remain essential, but are not sufficient on their own. A university should also be judged by what its graduates become and what it contributes to society.
The framework draws on the Qur’anic concept of falah, success that goes beyond material achievement. It sets out a five-stage pathway. Belief gives education purpose. Character turns purpose into conduct. Leadership, understood as amanah (trust), turns character into collective action. Institutions turn that action into lasting systems. Civilization reflects the long-term result for human flourishing.
Participants deliberated on four guiding questions. The first was how universities can assess the development of students’ character, beyond knowledge and employability. The second was how universities can develop ethical and responsible leaders, and make leadership development part of the student experience. The third was what changes universities can make to uphold trust, fairness and accountability, and which of these leaders can implement without waiting for regulatory reform. The fourth was how universities can contribute more to Pakistan beyond degrees and rankings, and what universities, government and industry should do together to strengthen employment, innovation and national development.
The roundtable was hosted by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Vice Chancellor, and Engr. Sohaib Tanveer, Vice President, CECOS University. Heads of universities from across the province took part, including Prof. Dr. Syed Umar Farooq, Vice Chancellor, Abasyn University; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Safeer Awan, Vice Chancellor, City University; Prof. Dr. Ejaz Hasan Khan Khattak, Vice Chancellor, Gandhara University; Prof. Dr. Ahmad-ur-Rehman Saljoqi, Vice Chancellor, Islamia College University; Prof. Dr. Syed Zafar Ilyas, Vice Chancellor, Kohat University of Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Mohsin Raza, Rector, Northern University; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mujahid, Rector, PAF-IAST; Prof. Dr. Khair uz Zaman, Vice Chancellor, Qurtuba University; Prof. Dr. Salim-ur-Rehman, Vice Chancellor, Sarhad University; Prof. Dr. Aneela Anwar, Vice Chancellor, SBBWU-KP; Prof. Dr. Zahir Shah, Vice Chancellor, University of Chitral; and Dr. Abdul Basit, Chancellor, Preston University.
Senior academic administrators also joined the discussion, including Prof. Dr. Ayesha Siddiqua, Director ORIC, Gomal University; Mr. Zeeshan Ullah, Director QEC, Islamia College University; and Dr. Safdar Nawaz Khan Marwat, Director QEC, UET Peshawar. Government and regulatory bodies were represented by Dr. Imran Ullah Marwat, Director, Higher Education Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Mr. Murtaza Noor, Director Social Sciences, Higher Education Commission.
APSUP was represented by Prof. Dr. Sumaira Rehman, Rector, Superior University, along with Dr. Sami Ullah Bajwa, Director ORIC; Mr. Syed Ali Mohsin Naqvi, Director; and Mr. Hamid Masood, Director ANCRD, Superior University; and Mr. Sohaib Mehmood, Director Marketing & Corporate Services, Superior Group.
