PESHAWAR: A two-day training on “Tech Education” and “Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)” organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Foundation (KPEF) concluded here on Thursday at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU). The training organized for faculty of the varsity and its affiliated colleges was attended by 35 lecturers belonging to various districts of KP including Pabbi, Bajur, Alizai, Parachinar. The Chief Guest of the event, Minister for Higher Education Kamran Khan Bangash, enlightened the audience that many initiatives are being taken by the Higher Education Department and Ministry of Science and Technology in higher education sector. The government was trying to provide technical skills to the students and especially women empowerment was the aim of the sitting government, he said adding that more stress is being given on STEM education. He said that E- Commerce would be started in commerce colleges and department of higher education would take it’s follow up. The government of KP has already signed MoU with international universities for provision of scholarships for the studies. He also stated that we have introduced many schemes for the students but the main issue is employability of the graduating students. APP
In future we need to ensure equipping students with technical skills first and then providing them with gadgets so that they may be able to earn from home and this is the real investment i.e. Human Capital.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Safia Ahmed while talking to the participants addressed the need for updated training sessions during the fast paced digital era where media and Information Technology are the basic essentials. And the faculty now a days need to be technology oriented in order to prepare their students for their careers.
The Secretary, Higher Education, Archives & Libraries, KP Daud Khan lauded the efforts made by Henna Karamat for taking the initiative. He said that all the efforts are being made to improve the quality of education. We are working on integrated approach and the curriculum for colleges are being designed accordingly and this training session is a step forward towards the goal. We need to accept and adopt the technological change.
Director Planning & Development KPEF Henna Karamat gave an overview of the entire training structure regarding her initiative. On the first day Dr Fouzia Jabeen, Assistant Professor, Department of CS, SBBWUP and Dr Owais Adnan, Assistant Prof. Institute of Management Sciences were the resource persons whereas Dr Jibran Ali Khan, Najib Ahmad, Dr, Sonia Saleem and Fakhira Najib were resource persons for the second day.
All the speakers highlighted the importance of interactive and digital learning. The entire training focused on the acquiring futuristic skills related to business models, soft skills, breaking stereotypes through gender inclusivity and STEM Education and its inclusion in curriculum and technological ways to improve classroom teaching to prepare future leaders.
The Vice Chancellor Benazir University appreciated the Managing Director of KPEF, Immad Lohani for taking this initiative for the females of the province.
