PU extends form submission date

Posted on June 30, 2021 by admin

LAHORE: Punjab University Department of Examinations has extended the last for submissions of admission form and fee for the MA/MSc Part-I & Part-II, Associate Degree Commerce Part-I & Part-II Annual Examinations 2021, LLB (5 years) Part-I, II, III, IV & V annual examination 2021 and LLB (3 years) Part-I, II & III annual examination 2021. The last date for receipt of online admission forms and fee for said exams of regular, late college, private and improve division candidates is July 8, 2021 with single fee. Details are available at PU website www. pu. edu. pk.

AIOU exams to start from July 01

Posted on June 29, 2021 by admin

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will hold in-person examinations of BS, M Sc, MS, M Phil and PhD programs of the Faculty of Sciences from July 01. While in-person examinations of the Faculty of Education for M Phil, MS and PhD programs are expected to be held in the second week of July. The date sheet and roll number slips for the Faculty of Sciences have been uploaded on the university website (www. aiou. edu. pk) and are also being dispatched to the students, said a news release issued here. The date sheet for the Faculty of Education is being finalized and would be uploaded on the university website soon. Roll number slips downloaded from the university website will be treated valid for appearing in the examinations, it said. These examinations are being held in collaboration with the departments of the faculty to ensure transparency and invigilation duties will be performed by the faculty members of the respective departments, in pursuance of the special directives of Vice Chancellor, AIOU, Professor Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum. Assessment of the examination papers as well as finalization of the results will be managed by the faculty members not only to ensure quality and transparency but, for timely announcement of the results as well.

Punjab govt announced schools summer vacation from July 2021

Posted on June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 by admin

LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas said on Twitter, the minister announced that summer vacation in all Punjab schools will start from July 1, 2021.

“Summer vacation for Schools of Punjab to start July 1st, 2021 till August 1st, 2021,” he announced in a tweet. The education minister also requested all children and their families follow SOPs issued by the government during vacations. “In these times of vacation, my request to all the children and their families is to follow SOPs issued by the government.”

The National Command Operation Centre earlier proposed summer holidays in educational institutes nationwide from July 18.

The NCOC proposed summer holidays between July 18 and August 01, but the Punjab govt reportedly had opposed the decision.

The Punjab government while opposing the decision conveyed that it wanted to announce a month-long holiday from July 02 to August 02.

It is pertinent to mention here that the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) on Saturday announced that there would be no summer holidays across the nationwide educational institutes in 2021.

President APPSF Kashif Mirza said that the schools will remain open during the summer holidays and would remain open between 7:00 am to 11:00 am.

Punjab govt announced schools summer vacation 2021

IBA Karachi and Pak Brunei ink an MoU to empower deserving students

Posted on June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 by admin

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi and Pak Brunei Investment Company Limited (PBICL) have collaborated to support IBA’s Financial Assistance Program for its financially deserving students.

Executive Director, IBA Karachi, Dr. S Akbar Zaidi and Managing Director, PBICL, Ms. Ayesha Aziz signed an MoU at the IBA Main Campus. Under this 4-year agreement, PBICL will set up an annual scholarship fund worth PKR 2 million at the IBA, supporting one deserving student for the duration of his/her studies.

Furthermore, the PBICL and the IBA will also collaborate on the Experiential Learning Projects (ELP) program. PBICL will offer real time projects to the IBA’s business management students for their learning and grooming.

Sharing her thoughts, Ms. Aziz commended the IBA for empowering the capable youth of the country by provision of quality education through its Financial Assistance Program.

Dr. Zaidi, recognizing the work of PBICL, expressed his gratitude towards PBICL management for partnering with the IBA.

The IBA financially supports approximately 30% of its student body every year, to ensure that financial constraint is not a hurdle for any deserving student.

IBA Karachi and Pak Brunei ink an MoU to empower deserving students

Punjab Govt still indecisive about summer vacation

Posted on June 27, 2021 by admin

LAHORE: The Punjab government has yet to decide about dates of summer vacation in schools of the province.

Earlier, Minister for School Education Murad Raas said the dates for summer vacation would be announced within two weeks in the province.

The Punjab government had already changed the timings for all private and public schools from 7am to 11:30am due to hot weather.

A meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre had suggested the Punjab government to announce summer vacation from July 18 to Aug 1. However, Mr Raas was planning to announce summer vacation from July 2 to Aug 2.

The participants could not decide about the summer vacation and would take up the matter in the next NCOC meeting.

Meanwhile, All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) President Kashif Mirza has said it is impossible to compensate the educational loss of students for 18 months by closing institutions.

He said the schools would remain open between 7am and 11am and students were allowed to attend schools in casual dress rather than uniform.

punjab summer vacation 2021 — Punjab Govt still indecisive about summer vacation

Solar panels for 42 universities in Punjab

Posted on June 27, 2021June 27, 2021 by admin

FAISALABAD: The Punjab minister for energy says only renewable energy is a viable solution to meet the demands of electricity and the government has mapped out a plan to install two megawatt solar panel in 42 public sector universities.

Addressing a gathering at groundbreaking of solar plant of 2KW at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar said the government had started working on converting waste into energy in different municipal corporations.

The minister also inaugurated UAF retrofitting at UAF Solar Park worth Rs71.99m under which 7,466 energy efficient fans and 20,723 LED lights have been installed and replaced with conventional inefficient alliances. It will save Rs35m annually.

solar panels for 42 universities in punjab

ICAP, IBA laid foundation of Research Unit (IIRU)

Posted on September 6, 2020April 21, 2021 by admin

(Muhammad Yasir) Lahore 6th September 2020,

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and Institute of Business Administration (IBA) laid the foundation of exclusive ICAP-IBA Research Unit (IIRU) on Friday 4th September with aim to promote research in the field of accounting and finance.

The two institutes expressed their intention to promote research and development in Pakistan by attracting and retaining outstanding scholars having research interest in the areas relevant to the profession, including finance, accounting, auditing, corporate governance and taxation.

ICAP and IBA sponsors of the IIRU will provide the requisite funding, in shape of grants to the research candidates. The Unit will focus on action-oriented research, which is expected to create value and impact for relevant stakeholders. Through this initiative ICAP members, students and renowned researchers will work together as team to foster culture of research.

Mr. Khalilullah Shaikh, President ICAP speaking on the occasion said both institutes share the common vision of serving public interest and ICAP-IBA Research Unit (IIRA) is a great step in this direction. ICAP has been striving to foster culture of research in CAs and IIRU will help contribute towards this area.

Dr. Syed Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director IBA welcomed President ICAP to IBA. He expressed his gratitude that leading professional body has come forward to become a partner for research and development. He said that the collaboration between the leading university and professional accounting body in the field of research will be beneficial for the research fraternity and Pakistani society.

The specific unit will promote research and development by attracting and retaining outstanding scholars relevant to the profession of finance, accounting, auditing, corporate governance and taxation.

The ICAP and IBA will provide the requisite funding to the unit in the shape of grants and focus on action-oriented rese¬arch to create value and impact for relevant stakeholders.

Sidra Iqbal Envisions an Educated Pakistan

Posted on August 29, 2020April 21, 2021 by admin

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Sidra Iqbal has been a constant beacon of light for youngsters in Pakistan. Not only is she one of the most celebrated TV personality, but the ambitious journalist is also an Ambassador for one of the largest privately owned networks of low-cost formal schools in Pakistan; The Citizens Foundation. Sidra is also the Youth Ambassador for I-Hope program and actively champions causes of substance that empowers the youth to make a positive difference.

Sidra hosted a TV show “Aaj Pakistan with Sidra Iqbal” that aims to bring the real issues to center stage. The show invites policy makers, decision influencers and the civil society for meaningful dialogue. Recently the Federal Minister of Education, Mr. Shafqat Mehmood featured in an exclusive conversation about academic planning and policies in Pakistan.

The present government completed two years and it was a perfect occasion to take stock of the national educational framework. More than 20 million children of school going age are out of school in Pakistan. The Higher Education provision capacity in the country is worse than Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, the Pakistan continues to produce global distinction holders and academic high achievers in every domain. One wonders how enormous is the true potential of our youth that remains unexplored.

The Covid-19 pandemic forcing schools to close, the private school’s fees hike and the latest Cambridge A Levels Results 2020 controversy were pressing issues in the background of this conversation. These prompted Sidra to ask the Federal Minister candid and critical questions.

While going into depth about the problems faced when applying to professional colleges and universities in Pakistan, Sidra pointed out how intermediate students have an advantage, in comparison to A-level students, due to a difference in the grading system. Other significant issue raised was the safety of students on campus and the frequent student suicide occurrences.

Taking up the cause of education in Pakistan, Sidra Iqbal has identified several flaws or pending improvements in the education sector, including the tedious access to education and the need for more effective coordination between the federal and provincial education ministries; which are inhibiting the nation from moving forward adequately. Being involved in both local and international forums, Sidra has pledged to help children pursue their dreams and opportunities, through educating them and improving access to schools.

Sidra has not only taken up the cause of Educating Pakistan, but has emphasised time and time again on her program as well as social media platform how ‘pursuits of higher should polish your best talents’ attesting to her belief that ‘Quality Education includes a safe and enriching environment to empower the youth’.

UNESCO Futures of Education – The Role of Technology in Education

Posted on July 12, 2020April 21, 2021 by admin

Global leaders emphasize need for conversations on reimagining the future of education and safer, more balanced futures

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Day three of the first, fully virtual Beaconhouse School of Tomorrow Conference: A World of Tomorrow: Negotiating a Better Future concluded the conference with all 22 sessions resonating with global audiences over the weekend. A key highlight of day one of the conference was the recognition of the Pakistan government’s comprehensive response to COVID-19 by Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. On day two, Mr Andreas Schleicher, Head of the OECD Directorate of Education & Skills joined for a discussion with Mr Kasim Kasuri, CEO of Beaconhouse on PISA assessment and the future of Education and Learning.

The third day of the conference continued with an insightful discussion on the hope that emerging learning could offer to the world’s 258 million out-of-school children. This panel discussion featured Stephanie Dobrowolski, co-founder, Rising Academy Network, Africa, Mosharraf Zaidi, leading public policy analyst, Professor Tahir Andrabi, economist &educational leader, and Henry Warren, a specialist in disruptive digital businesses as the moderator.

A highlight of the day was the conversation on reimagining the future of learning,

moderated by Nassir Kasuri, Executive Director, Beaconhouse, with the featured speakers Dr Roger Schank, AI Researcher & CEO, Socratic Arts, Suzie Boss, iconic US learning advocate & PBLWorks Faculty, Dr Siva Kumari, Director General, International Baccalaureate, and Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE, Global Director of Education, KidZania.

Sessions ran concurrently on topics such as supporting vulnerable & SEN learners during school closures with Professor Maggie Atkinson, former Children’s Commissioner for England, award-winning novelist, Mohsin Hamid, inclusion expert, LaCheyna Sparrow-Adebiyi, and founder ‘Cities for Children’ Madeeha Ansari amongst others, along with a seminar on the International Baccalaureate’s ATL philosophy with Lance King. Transformative values and competencies were explored with Dr Tristian Stobie, Director Curriculum CAIE, Cynthia Guyer, Executive Director, Global Dignity, Dr Umar Saif, technology advisor, and Vikas Pota, education leader & creator of Global Teacher Prize.

Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, cognitive scientist, Munizae Jahangir, journalist, and Lara Rathod, creator/host, Red Sofa Conversations, discussed the ‘Info-demic’ in an attempt to sift fact from fiction, along with Oscar-winning film producer & member, House of Lords, UK, Lord David Puttnam CBE.

The School of Tomorrow conference seeks to understand how Covid-19 is shaping important global conversations about safer and more balanced futures, as well as pushing educators to reimagine the future of education at both school and university levels.

The conference updates are made available on its website (www.sotevents.com) and the social media platforms Facebook and YouTube (Sot Events).

SOT Events are made possible by the generous support of corporate sponsors. The organisers acknowledge the support of United Bank Limited as the Lead Sponsor for SOT Edition XI.

The non-profit School of Tomorrow Event Series was launched in 2000 and is organised by Beaconhouse as part of its ongoing commitment to its social responsibility.