Islamabad: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), in a significant collaborative effort with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue (IRD), and the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Development (QAD), has inaugurated a two-day workshop titled “Quality First: Enhancing Online Teaching in Higher Education.” This initiative is designed to advance the quality of online education in Pakistan’s higher education institutions, focusing on course design, student engagement, and assessment on digital platforms.
According to International Islamic University Islamabad, the workshop is a key component of the NRPU Project Quality Assurance for Online Teaching in Higher Education in Pakistan, spearheaded by Dr. Fouzia Ajmal and Prof. Dr. N. B. Jumani. The opening ceremony featured remarks from the Acting President of IIUI, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sarwar, who emphasized the importance of integrating relevance into teaching methods and adapting to modern educational technologies without compromising quality.
The event also addressed the global evolution of distance education, discussing its potential and necessary transformations to meet the needs of the ever-changing job market. Mr. Ubaidullah Anwar, Deputy Director of HEC, further clarified misconceptions about distance learning and explained the role of HEC in shaping policies for open and distance learning.
The workshop leverages international standards such as the Quality Learning and Teaching (QLT) and Quality Matters (QM) frameworks, alongside the HEC’s Online Education Toolkit, to provide participants with the skills needed to enhance online teaching and learning. Experts from various institutions, including the Pakistan Institute of Education, Bahria University, IIUI, SDPI, Allama Iqbal Open University, and Virtual University, are serving as resource persons, sharing their insights and experiences.
The event has attracted participants from universities across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, reflecting a collective endeavor to uplift educational standards through innovative teaching methodologies. The opening ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Rehmat Ellahi, Director of QAD, who acknowledged the concerted efforts of all the organizers and participants in bringing the workshop to fruition.