NTC Aims to Attain Signatory Status of the Sydney Accord

Islamabad, March 19, 2024: The National Technology Council (NTC) has taken an important step towards attaining provisional signatory status of the Sydney Accord. The Accord is an international mutual recognition agreement for qualifications in the field of Engineering Technology, and its members are called signatories.

To apply for signatory status, aspiring countries must have two mentors recognized by the Sydney Accord who help in achieving provisional signatory status. For this purpose, NTC is working with Malaysia and New Zealand. New Zealand has nominated Dr. Paul Wilson, Managing Director, Vintage Lane Consulting Limited, NZ, as a mentor while Malaysia has yet to decide.

In this connection, an online meeting was organized, which was attended by Engr. Imtiaz H. Gilani, Chairman NTC, Mr. Bret Williams, General Manger, Global, Engineering, New Zealand, Dr. Paul Wilson, Mentor, Mr. Nasir Shah, Director General, Quality Assurance Agency, HEC, and Mr. Fahd Amin, Assistant Director NTC.

The Chairman NTC thanked Mr. Bret Williams and Mr. Paul Wilson for agreeing to help NTC achieve provisional signatory status. He explained that NTC is a subsidiary of HEC with full administrative, financial, and academic powers, with Chairman HEC as its controlling authority. This autonomy is a fundamental requirement for signatory status.

The Chairman NTC said, “Becoming a signatory to the Sydney Accord will be a crucial step for the future for Pakistani engineering technology graduates and give our skilled manpower global recognition.”

“We at NTC are thankful to all the stakeholders, and with the continued support from HEC, we are hopeful to achieve the signatory status of the Sydney Accord,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that as part of the mentoring exercise, the mentor must physically be involved in one or two accreditation visits conducted by NTC. September 2024 has been tentatively decided as a suitable time for the visit of Paul Wilsons.

During the discussion, many queries were raised regarding procedures, delineation of HEC and NTC responsibilities as regulators to avoid duplication, frequency of regulatory visits etc. Mr. Imtiaz Gilani, Mr. Nasir Shah and Mr. Fahd Amin clarified issues to the complete satisfaction of Mr. Bret Williams and Mr. Paul Wilson.