Karachi, In a significant stride towards enhancing student support services at higher education institutions in Pakistan, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, recently hosted a four-day training program as part of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA). The training focused on Mental Health and Microenterprise Development (MED), areas deemed crucial for the advancement of student support services.
According to Institute of Business Administration – Karachi, the program saw the participation of representatives from 16 public sector universities across Pakistan. Dr. Kari Trexler Ellingson, Associate Vice President for Student Development at the University of Utah, led the sessions on Mental Health, emphasizing micro-counseling skills, career counseling, and addressing student mental health and trauma. Meanwhile, Islam M. Orban, Chief Investment Officer at Arweqah, KSA, spearheaded the Microenterprise Development segment, guiding participants through best practices in university-based incubator design and development of ecosystem support interventions.
The training aimed not only to equip university representatives with essential skills and knowledge but also to foster a collaborative environment for sharing ideas and best practices. The diverse participation from various departments underscored the program’s inclusive approach and its emphasis on addressing the multifaceted needs of student support services.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Kenneth Holland, Chief of Party USAID-HESSA, praised the ambition and aspirations of the IBA students and faculty, highlighting their potential to contribute significantly to the country’s development. He reiterated the role of the HESSA program in realizing the participants’ aspirations to become successful professionals and entrepreneurs.
The program concluded with a ceremony where Dr. Holland and Ms. Gwendolyn Schaefer, Assistant Director at the Institute of International Education, U.S., distributed certificates to the participants. This initiative not only aimed to enhance existing student services but also to introduce innovative programs that make higher education more accessible and effective. The successful completion of the USAID’s HESSA training at IBA Karachi marks a milestone in the collaborative efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of higher education services across Pakistan.