The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, in collaboration with the Higher Education Department (HED) of Punjab, recently conducted a capacity-building training program for faculty members of 50 affiliated colleges (ACs) in Lahore.
The initiative aims to support the tertiary education system of the country by enhancing the capabilities of faculty members through a comprehensive training program. The three-day workshop, held at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, was attended by 91 participants, including teachers from different areas of the Lahore Division.
The program, a part of the Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) project, is focused on supporting the ACs and several other initiatives such as IT support, governance, financial autonomy, and capacity building. This article aims to explore the details of the program and its impact on faculty members and affiliated colleges.
Program Details
The capacity-building program for the faculty of affiliated colleges in Lahore was led by the Post-Secondary Education Reform Unit (PERU) team, a component of the project responsible for executing and rolling out UEP.
The training consisted of ten modules, including Transition to Semester System, Semester System Planning & Management, Academic Advisement & Career Progression, Use of Technology in Teaching, Use of Technology in Assessment, Learning Assessment & Feedback, Quality in Learning, Curriculum Development, Course Development, and Teaching Methodology: Andragogy and Pedagogy.
The participants of the program were from different colleges located in Lahore, Shahdara, Kasur, Pattoki, Phool Nagar, Chunian, Kot Rada Kishen, Mustafaabad, Kanganpur, Khudian Khas, Changa Manga, Muridke, Nankana Sahib, Narang Mandi, Shahkot, Sangla Hill, Bucheki, and Sheikhupura. More than 60% of the participants were women.
The training was conducted through a blended learning approach that included pre-training and post-training assessments, and feedback surveys.
Impact of the Program
The pre-training and post-training assessments indicate that the program was effective in adding substantial value to the participants. The faculty members appreciated the efforts of the HEC and suggested the need for regular training for faculty and staff members.
They also stressed the importance of closer collaboration between the Higher Education Department, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Affiliating Universities (AUs). The training received positive feedback from participants, and they highlighted that it helped them in improving their teaching practices and assessment methods.
The capacity-building training program for the faculty of affiliated colleges in Lahore, conducted by HEC in collaboration with HED Punjab, is a significant step towards enhancing the capabilities of faculty members and supporting the tertiary education system of the country.
The program has a positive impact on the faculty members, as indicated by the pre-training and post-training assessments. It is essential to continue such initiatives and collaborations to improve the quality of education in Pakistan.
