LUMS and PIE Partner for Educational Excellence in Pakistan
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The Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education (SOE) at LUMS hosted the signing of a Letter of Understanding (LoU) with the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) on March 21, 2025. This partnership, signed by Dr. Shahid Soroya, Director General, PIE, and Dr. Tayyaba Tamim, Dean of SOE, marks the beginning of a collaborative effort on the Equity Equation Project. Led by Dr. Farah Nadeem, Assistant Professor, SOE; Dr. Faisal Bari, Associate Professor, MGSHSS; and Dr. Jessica Albrent, Assistant Professor, SOE, the project focuses on using data-driven approaches to improve education policy decisions and school enrolment strategies in Pakistan.
The signing event was preceded by a presentation by Dr. Soroya to students, faculty, and staff at SOE, where he outlined his organisation’s significant work in education policy. He was joined by Dr. Zaigham Qadeer, Director PIE, in an engaging discussion that addressed the audience’s questions and remarks.
Under Dr. Soroya’s leadership, PIE has played a key role in strengthening Pakistan’s education data infrastructure since its establishment in 2021. The institute manages national education statistics, conducts the National Achievement Test (NAT), and collaborates with provinces to standardise and improve data collection.
PIE’s collaboration with LUMS will facilitate knowledge exchange between researchers and experts from both institutions, enabling policy research to analyse challenges and develop evidence-based solutions for educational improvement. It will encourage dialogues to engage stakeholders and develop actionable recommendations for policy formulation, and foster cooperation to share expertise, data, and resources for the development of the education sector.
Dr. Soroya emphasised the significance of this partnership, stating, “At PIE, our mission is to ensure data-driven decision-making in education. Collaborating with LUMS allows us to leverage data science for policy impact, driving more effective and equitable education reforms in Pakistan."
Dr. Tamim thanked Dr. Soraya for engaging with the LUMS community, adding, “This will be the first project, but hopefully not the last one; we look forward to working with you more! We also look forward to creating platforms where our students engage with you.”
This LoU marks the beginning of a promising partnership between LUMS and PIE. Integrating research with policymaking, the Equity Equation Project aims to bridge the gap between data analysis and education policy, ensuring meaningful improvements in Pakistan’s education sector.
