Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides RMB 96,903,800 grant for Phase 1 of Smart Universities (Classroom) Transformation Project

¥96.9M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Pakistan Higher Education Commission
Country	Pakistan
Start Date	Oct 08, 2019
End Date	Oct 16, 2033
Duration	5,122 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`89602`

Grant Description

In late September 2019, the Chinese Government signed a cooperation agreement with the Government of Pakistan for Phase 1 of Smart Universities Transformation Project, also known as the Smart Classroom Project.

Then, on October 8, 2019, the Chinese Government and Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) signed letters of exchange, which committed RMB 96,903,800 (about USD 13.05 million) of grant funding for this Phase 1 of this project.

The Smart University Transformation Project aims to upgrade 124 public universities across Pakistan through advanced information and communication technology (ICT) from China. The first phase involves the development of 100 smart classrooms at 50 public universities in 49 cities.

The purpose of Phase 1 is to act as a pilot program in which 50 universities will install "main smart classrooms" and the other 50 will install "branch smart classrooms". Classrooms will be equipped with TVs, smart boards, cameras, speakers, digital textbooks, and video conferencing tools.

In November 2020, the Pakistan HEC posted an official Request for Proposal (RFP), limited to only "pre-qualified Chinese bidders." China Railway Signal & Communication Shanghai Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd., one of the three pre-qualified bidders listed in Annex V of the same document, was selected as the implementing contractor for Phase 1.

Works began in September 2021 and were originally scheduled for completion in November 2022.

On December 26, 2023, the Higher Education Commission held an online ceremony to mark the successful establishment of the 100 smart classrooms.

📋 Staff Comments

1. This project is also known as the Smart Classroom Project. The Chinese project title is 智慧教室项目2. In 2015, the Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) started a version of the Smart University Project. Its purpose was to equip university campuses with blanket WiFi coverage, in order to enable the deployment of other smart instruments as needed (see 'Factual situation'). This was carried out without Chinese involvement.

📚 Sources & References

China to provide 100 smart class rooms , seven research centers to Pakistan : Envoy
China promises more scholarships for Pak students
Social And Economic Development Under CPEC
CPEC campaigner bridging youth to education facilities
Smart classrooms with advanced Chinese technology to invigorate Pakistan’s education system
China-Pakistan ties on strong footing
Li says
Fact Book 2020
Smart classrooms with advanced Chinese technology to invigorate Pakistan’s education system
China to provide Rs 2 billion for smart university project in Pakistan
驻巴基斯坦大使农融接受全巴广播公司采访
Ongoing Projects
Request for Proposal (RFP) Smart Universities: Transformation through of smart classrooms Phase # 1 (A project under Socio-Economic Sector of CPEC)
FACTUAL SITUATION REGARDING HEC’S SMART UNIVERSITY PROGRAMME, 2019-2020 Annual Report, (295th Session) SENATE SECRETARIAT 'QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES' to be asked at a sitting of the Senate to be held on Friday, the 17th January, 2020
Pakistan to undertake 27 projects with $1b grant from China
CPEC JWG reviews projects under $1bn Chinese grant
SENATE SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the Senate to be held on Friday, the 17th January, 2020
YEAR BOOK 2019-20
China-funded smart classroom inaugurated at AIOU
The China-funded Smart Classroom Project integrates ICT technology into learning in Pakistan. Lots of classrooms are gradually established across Pakistan under the project
Smart classrooms with advanced Chinese technology to invigorate Pakistan’s education system, “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on Friday, the 25th March, 2022
Smart classrooms with advanced Chinese technology to invigorate Pakistan's education system
HEC Sets up 100 Smart Classrooms Nationwide Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

All Grantees

Pakistan Higher Education Commission

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