ISLAMABAD: In a significant step toward strengthening nutrition education in Pakistan's higher education sector, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Aga Khan University (AKU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make specialised online nutrition training available to university faculty across the country.
The partnership will bring Pakistan-specific IGNIT3 nutrition courses to the Learning Management System (LMS) of HEC's National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), giving faculty members—particularly those involved in nutrition and nursing education—access to evidence-based learning resources designed to strengthen teaching capacity and support better health outcomes nationwide.
The initiative reflects growing recognition that improving nutrition knowledge among university educators is essential for preparing future healthcare professionals capable of addressing Pakistan's continuing burden of malnutrition and improving maternal, newborn and child health.
A long-term partnership to build academic capacity
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Dr Salim Virani, Professor and Vice Provost Research at Aga Khan University, and Dr Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE-HEC).
The collaboration establishes a framework for integrating AKU's specialised nutrition courses into HEC's digital professional development platform, enabling faculty members from universities across Pakistan to access high-quality training regardless of their geographical location.
The agreement will remain in force until March 31, 2029, providing a sustained platform for faculty development through accredited online learning.
Seven nutrition courses to be hosted on NAHE's LMS
As part of the collaboration, Aga Khan University has provided seven SCORM-compliant IGNIT3 online nutrition courses for hosting on the NAHE Learning Management System.
The courses cover a wide range of topics relevant to nutrition education and public health, including:
• Foundations of nutrition
• Assessment and management of malnutrition
• Intersectoral approaches to nutrition
• Climate change and nutrition
• Gender and nutrition
The training programmes have been designed for university faculty across various academic ranks, including Demonstrators, Lecturers, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, Professors and Directors.
By expanding access to standardised, evidence-based educational content, the initiative aims to strengthen the quality of nutrition teaching across Pakistan's higher education institutions.
HEC highlights digital learning and strategic collaboration
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE, said the partnership reflects HEC's commitment to enhancing faculty development through innovative digital learning opportunities and strategic collaborations with leading national and international institutions.
She noted that expanding access to high-quality online professional development remains a key component of HEC's broader strategy for improving academic excellence across universities.
Chairman HEC calls for curriculum integration
HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar appreciated the support provided by Aga Khan University and encouraged more strategic collaborations of this nature between higher education institutions.
He also stressed the importance of integrating nutrition-related educational content into university curricula so that future graduates are better equipped to address Pakistan's evolving health and nutrition challenges.
His remarks underscore the increasing emphasis on aligning higher education with national development priorities and evidence-based healthcare education.
Courses may eventually be offered to students
HEC Executive Director Dr Zia ul Haq acknowledged the contribution of Aga Khan University's leadership and academic team for providing the course content and technical support required for the initiative.
He also emphasised the need to create greater public awareness about nutrition and suggested that, in the future, the IGNIT3 courses could be offered directly to university students in addition to faculty members.
Such an expansion could further strengthen nutrition literacy among future healthcare professionals and educators.
AKU sees opportunity to build a nutrition-literate workforce
Dr Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, one of Pakistan's leading experts in maternal, newborn and child health, thanked everyone involved in making the collaboration possible and expressed optimism that the Pakistan-specific IGNIT3 courses would help build a workforce with stronger knowledge of nutrition across the country.
He said the initiative has the potential to strengthen professional capacity by ensuring educators have access to current, evidence-based learning resources tailored to Pakistan's health priorities.
Why this collaboration matters
Pakistan continues to face significant nutrition challenges, including child stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and maternal malnutrition, making nutrition education an increasingly important component of healthcare and university training.
Experts have long argued that investing in faculty development creates a multiplier effect, as better-prepared educators influence generations of students entering healthcare and related professions.
By combining Aga Khan University's academic expertise with HEC's nationwide digital learning infrastructure, the partnership seeks to strengthen nutrition education, expand continuing professional development opportunities and contribute to Pakistan's long-term public health goals.
As digital learning becomes an increasingly important part of higher education, the collaboration may also serve as a model for future partnerships that use technology to strengthen academic capacity and improve health education across the country.
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