Karachi's medical universities launch National Outreach Programmes for faculty development

IV Report

KARACHI: In a significant move to enhance faculty capabilities, two public sector medical universities in Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), have separately launched national outreach programmes for higher education faculty. This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.

The DUHS programme was inaugurated at the digital library of Dow Medical University, featuring prominent academic figures, including DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Saeed Quraishy and NAHE Director Sulaiman Ahmed. The programme offers dynamic modules focused on technology integration, enabling educators to navigate the evolving digital landscape and design innovative learning environments, Professor Quraishy noted.

Key Modules:

    - Communication skills module: Develop impactful narratives for presentations and teaching sessions.

    - Research and development module: Learn latest research techniques, improve academic writing skills, and identify research topics aligned with DUHS strategic areas of interest.

The programme aims to enhance professional competencies of 32 lecturers and assistant professors from 26 departments through intensive learning experiences.

JSMU programme details

JSMU launched another national outreach programme for faculty development under the "Higher Education Faculty Development in Pakistan (HEDP)" project, funded by NAHE. NAHE Director Sulaiman Ahmed highlighted that JSMU and Dow University are the first in Sindh to initiate this project.

Programme objectives:

    - Enhance teaching and learning

    - Adopt modern educational technologies

    - Support professional development

    - Strengthen university management

    - Build a collaborative academic community

JSMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Amjad Siraj Memon emphasised the importance of incorporating opportunities for faculty to travel abroad and experience different teaching styles.

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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