Day: November 24, 2021

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Educator’s stress needs for teaching license in Pakistan 

Karachi, November 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):A teaching license can help certify that a teacher has the skills and knowledge needed for effective classroom practice, stressed participants at a policy dialogue organised by the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development.

The dialogue aimed to raise awareness, gather evidence and make technical recommendations on the possibility of introducing a teaching license in Pakistan. Such a certification can serve to enhance teaching quality and, subsequently, students’ learning. A teaching license can also raise the professional status of teachers and open new employment opportunities for them locally as well as abroad.

One of the keynote speakers, Dr Linda Darling-Hammond, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, drew upon the history of the medical profession to highlight the long struggle that it underwent before it arrived at its current state. Likewise, she felt that teacher education would undergo the same struggle. “Licensure will benefit teachers as well as teacher education institutions to improve quality.”

“Teacher licensing is desirable in Pakistan to improve teaching standards. However, we need to be mindful of the political economy of teaching licenses,” said Dr Irfan Muzaffar, technical director at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Support Programme, the other keynote speaker at the dialogue. “The schools of education at universities need to make concerted effort in this regard.”

The dismal learning outcomes of Pakistani students are visible in the assessments conducted by many local and global agencies. The government’s NEAS, National Education Assessment System, the citizen-led ASER Annual Status of Education Report and the international TIMSS, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study show how weak students’ learning outcomes really are in Pakistan. Experts said that students will benefit more from better teachers who have undergone relevant and credible professional development.

“A good teacher is like a good doctor,” said Dr Sajid Ali, an associate professor and director of research and publications at IED. “A bad doctor despite having access to a well-equipped clinic and medicines cannot treat a patient adequately. Similarly, a bad teacher despite having an excellent curriculum or assessment system cannot transform students into successful learners.”

Deliberations at the event led to participants recommending the introduction of teaching licenses, which can enhance the government’s efforts to improve the standards of teaching and overall teacher management system. They also touched upon various technical, political and economic questions that need to be resolved as efforts progress towards a licensing policy.

The dialogue team aims to produce a White Paper on teacher licensing – from the proceedings – that will contain the literature review, the outcomes of dialogue, findings of survey and policy recommendations for introducing teaching license in Pakistan. It will also contain the key pressure points and their possible resolution. The White Paper will be useful for legislators to move forward towards teaching license policy.

The White Paper will also serve as a resource for a continuing dialogue amongst educationists, policy makers, educational managers, legislators, parents, schools, teachers and other stakeholders from across Pakistan to assess its feasibility in Pakistan.

In the past, various efforts have been made to introduce teacher licensing under the banner of various education development projects. This White Paper effort is spearheaded by AKU-IED without any project support and is based on a systematic process that includes a thorough situation analysis, global comparisons and national consultations. The dialogue was preceded by a series of seminars with international speakers and will continue post-event to determine the feasibility and next steps for teacher licensing in Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Media Executive
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University (AKU)
Stadium Road, Karachi
Tel: +92-21-34930051
Fax: +92-21-34934294, +92-21-34932095
Cell: +92-301-8258028
Email: rasool.sarang@aku.edu, public.affairs@aku.edu​
Website: www.aku.edu

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UVAS launches project on ‘Capacity Building of dairy farmers and industry stakeholders on milk value chain’ 

Lahore, November 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Department of Dairy Technology of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab (L and DD) started a short-term training project titled ‘Capacity Building of Dairy Farmers and Industry Stakeholders on Milk Value Chain’ at its Veterinary Academy on Wednesday.

Additional Secretary Livestock (Planning) Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry chaired the launching ceremony while Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad, Additional Secretary (Administration) Khizer Hayat, Dean Faculty of Animal Production and Technology Prof Dr Anjum Khalique, Chairman Department of Dairy Technology Dr Saima Inayet, Project Director Dr Muhammad Junaid, Director Veterinary Academy Dr Muhammad Ikram and officials from Livestock Department and professionals from public and private dairy sector were present.

Addressing the audience, Khalid Mahmood Ch said that establishment of the Veterinary Academy in UVAS is a great millstone to impart practical knowledge and skills to professionals from across the country as well as outside the country for their capacity building. He said that our livestock farming community of rural areas gets maximum benefits under this project especially enhancing the milk and meat production.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad said that it is direly needed to create awareness among public through social media and YouTube channel by making video clips regarding the nutritional value of milk to avoid misconception associated with packed and pasteurized milk. He said that UVAS has always been focusing on imparting of practical knowledge to their students instead of distributing degrees. He said that UVAS Department of Dairy Technology and its faculty members play a vibrant role in the development of dairy sector by solving dairy sector issues through quality research.

He said that UVAS in collaboration with Livestock Department successfully achieved delivery of pure in-vitro fertilized (IVF) Sahiwal calves which was a breakthrough in the development of livestock sector. He said that capacity building training is a two-way learning of practical latest knowledge from each other. Khizer Hayat said that capacity building trainings are necessary to enhance quality of milk. Earlier Prof Dr Anjum Khalique welcomed the participants and spoke about the objectives of the project while at the end Dr Saima Inayet presented the vote of thanks.

Dr Muhammad Junaid spoke about the training scope and target audience. He gave a detailed presentation on concept, innovations, target audience, selection criteria, implementation plan and focus areas of the project. He said that under this project three to five days short term trainings would be conducted on different topics related to efficient milking practice, milk storage and transportation, traceable status of dairy products, food safety system, pasteurized milk technologies, fermented milk products, flavoured milk, frozen dairy products, dairy fat based products, laboratories analysis skills and intervention in consumer awareness for dairy products, etc, He said that veterinary professionals, small scale milk processors, dairy industry stakeholders, laboratory personal and literate (dairy) consumer to be the target audience for these training.

Meanwhile Additional Secretary Livestock (Planning) Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry along with Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad chaired the concluding ceremony of weeklong training course on “Diagnostic Ultrasonography in Animals” and distributed certificates among participants and resource persons.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Officer
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS)
Syed Abdul Qadir Jillani (Out Fall) Road,
Lahore – Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99211374, +92-42-99211449
Email: webmaster@uvas.edu.pk
Website: www.uvas.edu.pk

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Sindh University organizes symposium to mark World Fisheries Day 

Jamshoro, November 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):A one-day symposium was organised in Department of Freshwater Biology and Fisheries, University of Sindh to mark World Fisheries Day here on Monday. Chaired by SU Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Meritorious) Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro, Muhammad Moazzam Khan WWF, Prof Dr Arfana Mallah, Dr Baradi Waryani, Dr Hameeda Kalhoro, Manzoor Ahmed Panhwar, Zulfiqar Ali Larik, Muhammad Aslam Ansari, Haider Ali, Dr Abdul Ahad and many others attended the symposium.

Addressing on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor Dr Kalhoro said that the fisheries sector was facing various challenges in the current era which was required to be paid proper heed. He said that the concerned authorities must come forward and take necessary steps for its development. “Senior and learned faculty members of the University of Sindh are busy in producing new trends of aquaculture to boost up the sector in the light of research and education”, he said.

Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences Prof Dr Wazir Ali Baloch said that every year World Fisheries Day was celebrated to raise awareness on the issues concerning fisheries sector. “Our faculty members are ready to collaborate with national and international organizations for conservation and restoration of the fisheries sector.

Director Centre for Coastal and Deltaic Studies Prof. Dr Mukhtiar Ahmed Mahar said that more than 4 million people in the Sindh province were associated and allied in fisheries profession. He said Sindh Coastal Community were facing the challenges of freshwater scarcity, climate change pattern of alteration and livelihood.

“The climate change, freshwater scarcity, sea intrusion and erosion has affected the agriculture, livestock, poultry and fisheries sectors greatly”, he said and added that under such a situation, the government had to take immediate measures to provide intensives to the coastal communities in order to stop the migration, food, water and livelihood scarcity in the region.

Chairman Department of Freshwater Biology Prof. Dr Khalid Hussain Lashari said that research based applied-nature experiments were required on the freshwater commercial fish species. He invited the research organizations for joint ventures related to development of the fisheries sector. Prof Dr Anila Naz Soomro, Mubashir Hassan, Dr RSN Janjua and others also spoke on the occasion.

For more information, contact:
Director
Centre for Pure and Applied Geology
University of Sindh
University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Tel: +92-22-9213167
Cell: +92-300-9375193
E-mail: shsolangi@usindh.edu.pk
Website: www.usindh.edu.pk

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LUMS Media and Arts Society Presents ‘Tale of Two Cities’ to LUMS Community 

Lahore, November 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):On October 15, the LUMS Media and Arts Society screened an original documentary titled, Tale of Two Cities. The screening, held at a packed auditorium at LUMS, was a culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and patience.

Tale of Two Cities tells the story of a group of students who treaded into unchartered territory, took a journey to remote places, interacted and lived with strangers, and who, deep down, learned to look at the world anew in the end. It tries to depict what happens when people set aside their egos, open their minds and hearts, and instil in themselves a desire to learn, explore and grow. Above all, it is a story of reflection. Among the various observations made by the students at the end of the journey, one was common: the more we try to give to the world, the more it tries to give back. This common observation gives due credit to the inspiration behind the film – the course, Civic Engagement and Service Learning taught and curated by Hiba Zakai, Head of Co-Curricular and Campus Climate at LUMS.

Ms. Zakai shared that the Civic Engagement and Service Learning course came into existence after a series of dialogues with fellow educators and a chance meeting with Justice (Rtd.) Jawwad Khawaja, who invited her to Harsukh, a community-based school that is a part of his home. “That was the start to a wonderful journey of interactions between two different worlds – LUMS students, mostly with a privileged background and the village children with glittering eyes, eager to explore and learn, yet bound by financial and cultural limitations. Hence, this established the foundation of the civic engagement education learning pedagogy, which maintains a balance between theory and action.”

The documentary was directed and written by Muhammad Muneeb, a student of the class of 2022 at the Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences at LUMS. Talking about his motivation behind making the film he said, “The making of the Tale of Two Cities was an act of sincerity. I wanted to portray the truth candidly and realistically. I went to Lahore and Gilgit, I lived with different people, and I captured their reality. Also, I think making a film means becoming invisible, declaiming yourself, and, in a sense, wiping out your existence in the process; leaving your prejudices aside. And later, editing ought to be an act of synthesis. Give things the attention they deserve, not a scene less, not a scene more.”

The screening of the documentary was followed by a discussion with the students who participated in the course and members of the audience, who appreciated the honest, authentic narrative of the film. Maham Ghazanfar shared her reflection, “The documentary had some key points that stood out to me. The idea about how the students at Harsukh were encouraged to think about their emotions and reflect on their thoughts to invoke critical thinking was presented in a suitable manner, and not in a “superman savior” way. Moreover, the theme throughout mentioned how the initial biases and perceptions of the students who participated in the course changed after the experience. This depicted how the narrative changed the concept from the idea of ‘us’ vs ‘them’ to ‘all of us’.”

Umar Azam also shared how the film inspired him, “The documentary made me realise how important it is for us to look beyond ourselves and give back to the community. Looking at my peers helping the community motivated me to do the same for society. We should work towards bridging the gap between the more privileged and the less privileged sections of the society.”

For more information, contact:
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
D.H.A. Lahore Cantt. 54792
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-35608000
Fax: +92-42-35725048
Website: www.lums.edu.pk

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26% businesses in Pakistan claimed that they are not at all satisfied with the quality of human resource available to them or their businesses: Gallup Business Confidence Survey Q4 2021 

Islamabad, November 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):According to a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, 26% businesses in Pakistan claimed that they were not at all satisfied with the quality of human resource available to them or their businesses.

Complete report for the Business Confidence Survey Q4 2021 can be accessed here:

https://gallup.com.pk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/6th-Gallup-Business-Confidence-Survey-Quarter-4-2021-Report.pdf

A nationally representative sample of businesses across Pakistan was asked the following question, “How satisfied you are with the quality of the human resource available to you and your business? Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not satisfied or not satisfied at all?” In response to this question, 44% said somewhat satisfied, 29% said very satisfied, and 26% said not satisfied or not satisfied at all. 1% provided no response.

Question: “How satisfied you are with the quality of the human resource available to you and your business? Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not satisfied or not satisfied at all?”

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
Gallup Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8445080
Email: isb@gallup.com.pk, caf@gallup.com.pk
Website: www.gallup.com.pk

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Air University committed to produce world class cyber security experts 

Islamabad, November 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):A two-day International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ICCSW-2021) concluded successfully on Wednesday at Air University, Islamabad. The President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi graced the occasion as Chief Guest whereas the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, Vice Chancellor Air University Air Marshal Javaid Ahmad (retd.) also addressed the participants, emphasizing the importance of cyber security in today’s digital world.

On the occasion, the country’s first-ever National Cyber Security Academy, established at Air University, was also inaugurated by the President in the presence of high-profile dignitaries. Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood and Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Nauman Ali attended the closing ceremony as Guests of honour.

President Dr. Arif Alvi, while addressing the ceremony, declared Cyber Security as a global threat having implications on the National Security of the country. He appreciated industry-academia collaboration, where PAF worked closely with the Air University and HEC in establishing the country’s first ever Cyber Security Academy. Terming it as a historic occasion, the President called for the pursuit of excellence in the cyber domain.

PAF Director General C4I Air Vice Marshal Abbas Ghumman, while sharing the cybervision of Pakistan Air Force, briefed about the strategic initiatives and valuable contribution of Pakistan Air Force for making the cyber space of Pakistan secure. He, on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, also assured Air University of providing due support in its endeavours in cyber security domain. The DG further talked about various initiatives, specially the establishment of PAF’s first cyber security park and full operationalization of the PAF’s cyber command by March next year.

Executive Director HEC Dr Shaista Sohail, in her speech, highlighted that the HEC was upgrading the academic course of cyber security to BS and PhD levels. According to her, introducing it as a mandatory subject in universities is also under consideration for creating awareness among the new generation.

Vice Chancellor Air University Javaid Ahmed, lauding the active support provided by PAF officials, said that his varsity is committed to produce highly-trained and well-qualified cyber security experts to address the emerging cyber security threats being faced by every institution of the country, including armed forces, civil institutions, public and private sector organizations, FinTech, banking sector, media houses and civil society. “The academy would conduct existing and future need-based requirement analysis, in close coordination with industry and stakeholders, to provide informed recommendations to design and upgrade existing courses while also developing new ones for various academic programs starting from elementary schools,” he further stated.

Director National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS) Dr. Kashif Kifayat, in his speech, informed that the NCCS housed at Air University Islamabad has been established by Government of Pakistan through Higher Education Commission (HEC). “It is actually a consortium of eleven (11) laboratories established in reputed Universities of Pakistan working in different fields of cyber security,” he said.

During the two-day conference, 22 research papers, 6 training workshops, and 2 panel discussions were among the key highlights whereas international delegates and researchers from the US, Turkey, Hungary, Malaysia and other countries also participated enthusiastically in order to share their rich expertise in the field of cyber security.

In the keynote and technical talks delivered throughout the conference, experts from diverse backgrounds shed light on different dimensions of cyber security highlighting the challenges faced and solutions being developed. Research paper presentations during the technical session proposed novel solutions for cyber security related problems in diverse IT fields such as cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things, digital crime forensics and social media etc. Among other highlights of the conference were workshops conducted to provide hands-on training on cyber security tools developed by various NCCS labs across the country.

The first panel discussed cyber security aspects of the FinTech sector, which is an emerging area of the IT industry focusing on providing financial services by modernizing the traditional financial model. Prominent names from the financial sector were accompanied by experts from the cyber security domain for an enlightening and thoughtful discussion on the current situation of FinTech security, and the need of the day to ensure the appropriate steps taken for provision of convenient and secure financial services to the customers. The panellists also hoped that the inauguration of NCSA will be a major step forward in strengthening the country on the cyber front by delivering highly skilled and trained professionals to serve the country’s IT infrastructure.

Another panel comprising key figures from the Government as well as private sectors focused on Pakistan’s cyber security industry, identifying the gaps where work needs to be done in order to boost the output of this industry both locally and globally. Some other interesting topics that came under-discussion were related to organizational cyber security transformation, cryptographic tools, deep learning of malware, cyber security of industrial controlled systems, DDoS attacks detection, cloud confidence, and cyber security for mobility and transport sector.

A good number of academia, industry experts, and representatives from public and private sector also visited the industry exhibition and evinced keen interest in the products including cyber forensic toolkits, secure communication framework, remote monitoring via sensors, and internet security and privacy labs. The exhibitors, expressing satisfaction on the arrangements made by Air University, also hoped that such events will be helpful in strengthening industry-academia linkages and bolstering academic and technical collaboration with technically advanced industries in the world.

For more information, contact:
Air University (AU)
PAF Complex, E-9, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9262557-9, +92-51-9261781, +92-51-2281482-4
Fax: +92-51-9260158
Email: amjad@mail.au.edu.pk
Website: https://www.au.edu.pk