HAPPENINGS
In the past, Pakistan’s undergraduates and postgraduates have faced constant struggles and obstacles to connect with global researchers, professionals, experts, and industrialists in various academic fields on a unified platform. These barriers have often limited their exposure to international perspectives and collaborative opportunities.
However, the recently held 58th meeting of the Asia Pacific Advanced Network – APAN58 – organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), marks a significant breakthrough to addressing these challenges. Conducting this high-calibre networking event has made substantial progress in bridging the gap between Pakistani academia and the global research community. This initiative not only enhances academic and professional connections but also represents a major milestone in fostering global networking opportunities within Pakistan’s educational landscape.
Uniting experts across academia
APAN-58, hosted by the Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN), is a flagship project of the HEC. The five-day event, held in the vibrant heart of the federal capital Islamabad last month, provided a valuable platform for diverse educational sectors.
During the conference, selected local and foreign researchers and speakers grasped the rich opportunity to present their papers in their respective session, and keynote speakers also engaged in discussion sessions to provide valuable knowledge regarding strengthening networking and fostering collaboration.
The conference had a rich academic agenda, including workshops, presentations, panel discussions, and working and special interest groups that covered various sessions in different academia areas such as networking, agriculture, medical, cybersecurity, e-culture, disaster mitigation, and GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) for National Research and Education Networks (NREN) empowerment.
The working groups provided a valuable space for researchers, academics, network engineers, and others to engage in discussions, while the meetings also facilitated crucial technology discussions.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the HEC, noted that the event played a crucial role in providing young Pakistani networking researchers with valuable opportunities to stay informed about the latest technological advancements. Meanwhile, Chairman Senate, Mr. Yusuf Raza Gilani, stating that “Pakistan’s partnership with APAN and investment in the networking sector are anticipated to create new avenues for Pakistan academic and technological sector.”
A significant milestone for networking
In an interview with Us, Fawad Raza, a prominent member of the local organizing committee and deputy director of the HEC, shared insights into the successful event. He emphasized that “the event marked a notable success in connecting international scholars, speakers, and researchers with local participants and students.” This enhanced connectivity effectively bridged the gap between professionals, industry leaders, and students, fostering a more integrated academic environment.
Fawad highlighted that APAN58 was the largest well-organized conference ever hosted by the HEC in Pakistan. Despite facing numerous challenges, the team organized a smooth and welcoming experience for all delegates. Looking ahead, Raza disclosed future plans, revealing that PERN is considering the establishment of local APAN chapters that intend to spread understanding about networking.
The Deputy Director of HEC also noted that the conference successfully met its objectives, earning positive feedback from international scholars and network organizations. Attendees commended the well-organized sessions and the conducive atmosphere, which has significantly enhanced Pakistan’s reputation within the APAN community.
The APAN team was also delighted with the arrangements. Liana Jacinta, General Manager of APAN, expressed her satisfaction with the arrangements, stating, “Despite the challenges, the HEC and PERN hosted an exceptional meeting, surpassing the number of sessions held at previous APAN events.”
Shaan Sivagurunathan, head of the APAN secretariat, spoke about the launch of the APAN PULSE project during a conference to enhance more of APAN’s ambition. “This initiative aims to bring National Research and Education Networks closer together by focusing on success stories and knowledge sharing,” Shaan said. He expressed hope that Pakistan will be selected as a host again in the future to attract even greater international participation.
AI, High Performance Computing (HPC), digital learning, and more
A highlight of the APAN58 conference was its theme, ‘AI and HPC: Better Together’, with various keynote speakers presenting their insights.
Dr. Jameel Ahmed, Chairman and Member of IT HEC, unveiled key plans for the future, stating, “We are ready to set up data centres in Lahore and Karachi, and will soon develop our own HPC and cloud system.”
Moreover, Assistant Professor Dr. Agha Ali Raza from LUMS delivered a compelling keynote speech on ‘Demystifying Generative AI’. His talk provided participants with in-depth research into GAI and prompt engineering.
During the conference, a Huawei presentation engaged participants by demonstrating how digital transformation, particularly through the adoption of smart Wi-Fi technologies, can revolutionize education systems. If Pakistan embraces these technologies, it could significantly improve our educational system by enabling smart classrooms and fostering digital learning environments.
APAN also maintained its commitment to fostering global participation by awarding fellowships to local and foreign students for their academic proposals.
Ahmad Umair Suhaidi, an international fellow from Malaysia, shared his experience, noting, “Attending the session on ‘HPC and AI: Better Together’ was incredibly insightful and I gained knowledge.”
Also, Sameer Ali, a PhD candidate in cybersecurity at the Australian National University, described his APAN58 experience as “truly enriching and rewarding.” He appreciated the opportunity to attend various valuable session.
The Sri Lankan and other local selected fellows expressed their delight with the warm hospitality during the whole conference.
One of the central activities of APAN58 was hosting a social dinner for attendees, designed to highlight and celebrate Pakistani culture. A key feature of the event was the cultural night, which aimed to present Pakistan’s peaceful image to the APAN community and international scholars.
Propelling Pakistan’s role in global academia
Consequently, the event made notable progress in advancing Pakistan’s academic sector, particularly in enhancing networking and AI capabilities within educational institutions. Hosting APAN58 has provided Pakistan with significant benefits, reinforcing its role in the global academic community, and initiatives like this can continue to bolster Pakistan’s global networking standing and accelerate technological and educational progress.