University of London Vice-Chancellor part of high-profile delegation to Pakistan

University of London Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, was part of a delegation of UK education leaders on a two-day visit to Pakistan, aimed at strengthening educational ties between the two countries.

The delegation met with senior officials from the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission in Islamabad on Saturday 5 October, discussing technical and vocational education and training prospects in Pakistan.

On Sunday 6 October in Karachi, the group met with Federal Education Minister, Maqbool Siddiqui, exploring partnerships to enhance Pakistan's vocational training framework. They also met with the Chief Justice of Sindh and high court judges.

Accompanying Professor Thomson were Lord Paul Boateng; Peter Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, University of Greenwich; Professor Richard Grose, Dean for Global Engagement, Queen Mary University of London; Tony Degazon, Regional Manager, City and Guilds; and Dr Amir Saadati, Executive Director of GEMS Middle East.

The University of London has a significant presence in Pakistan, with nearly 9,000 students currently enrolled. Over 7,000 students are pursuing the University of London LLB programme across 30 Recognised Teaching Centres, highlighting the strong educational connections between the UK and Pakistan. During the trip, Professor Thompson also met with Barrister Usama Malik from the Directorate of Legal Education in Pakistan.

The visit follows Pakistan's launch of a revised transnational education policy in September 2024, which aims to create new opportunities for international partnerships in higher education.