Driven to improve the quality of higher education as an engine of growth and socio-economic development within Pakistan for 20 years, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Pakistan has focused on linking academics and professional services staff with their counterparts in various countries, including the UK, US, and Australia. In collaboration with the British Council, the PAK-UK initiative has been launched to offer deeper linkages between the academics and universities in the UK and Pakistan. This paper presents statistical analysis of data collected in a British Council project highlighting the gender inequalities of the current HEC strategy. The results suggest the potential for online opportunities to help close and amend this gender gap and improve higher education in Pakistan, and the PAK-UK initiative’s role in contributing more broadly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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The mentoring of faculty is an important aspect in higher education for countries investing in training faculty abroad. This study explores the key challenges faced by young female faculty returning from doctoral studies abroad and assuming leadership positions in higher education without prior mentoring. The participants of this study were doctoral graduates who completed studies in the UK and USA and working in universities overseen by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. A thematic analysis was conducted for interview data obtained from the British Council in Pakistan and consisting mainly of young female academics. The findings reveal cases of outright discrimination against females, a lack of support systems for female faculty and the role of socio-cultural context in constraining them. Remedial mechanisms in the form of appropriately matched mentoring is needed to address the emerging concerns.