Day: November 25, 2022

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Prof. Dr. Syed Amir Gilani puts forth ideas on globalizing higher education

Lahore, November 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):Globalized higher education—the cross-border higher education that facilitates mobility of students, faculty, and programs—has been one of the major trends in higher education over the past two decades. Higher education, driven by globalisation, can be a source of increasing worldwide interconnectedness that combines economic, cultural, and social changes.

An expert from The University of Lahore (UOL), Prof. Dr. Syed Amir Gilani (Pro-Rector, Allied Health Sciences, UOL), recently discussed the intricacies of globalisation of higher education during his lecture in Indonesia.

During the lectures, Dr. Gilani shed light on the most important component of globalisation in relation to education, which is the need for producing higher-quality manpower that can successfully face competition in the global market. He maintained that the process of globalisation has changed the economic, political, and cultural structures of the world, adding that it is useful to overcome the effects of the global economic crises.

Envisioning the future of academic health sciences, the Pro-Rector further said that universities are often at the forefront of research breakthroughs, and in order to remain relevant and continue to innovate, researchers must be on the ball regarding changes in their fields.

“By 2025, globalization will sharpen the hierarchy in world higher education, with a handful of university “transnational corporations” in the highest tier alongside private firms and local community college-style institutions in the lowest,” he added.

He explained that today, there are over one billion people who don’t have adequate supplies of clean water; countless others who don’t have access to medical care; and millions who live without enough to eat.

“The students are the ones that can work towards solving these grand challenges if they are able to work with multicultural, multidisciplinary teams to solve the problems that face the world.” As a result, globalisation of education must be a required component of higher education,” he concluded.

Dr. Gilani also met with UNY University officials, Dr. Ohamka Jakarta (Dean and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Mohammadiyan), international office staff from six Mohammadiyan universities, rectors from six Mohammadiya Foundation private universities, the Public University-National Defense Ministry University, and BINAWAN University (a private multidisciplinary health university) to discuss MoUs and collaboration.

In the meetings, both sides discussed the need to think about activating MoUs for digital learning, skill enrichment, student exchange, module/course exchange, twining models, bridging courses, dual degree programs, co-authored publications, combined research projects, and sharing resources. They also shared views regarding the opportunities for student, faculty, and research exchange MoUs, as well as the launch of a campus of the UOL or a partnership with a local medical college.

It was also discussed how people come to join the monthly online exchange of lectures and interactions with rectors via Zoom. Dr. Gilani went on to say that the UOL intends to launch medical degrees through collaborations, joint, dual, and double degree programmes involving industrialization and skill-based diplomas with Indonesian local colleges. The UOL also offered 51 scholarships that were 100 percent free for Indonesian students.

On the other hand, the Pro-Rector met with representatives of higher education in Indonesia about how to start an international university, or a medical college and a teaching hospital in Indonesia. Later, he conducted a meeting with His Excellency the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Jakarta, Mr. Muhammad Hassan. The ambassador expressed his commitment to support the UOL in its new initiative about the globalisation of higher education. The UOL appreciated and honoured the guidance of Mr. Hassan.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk

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UOL aids the victims of deadly flood in Gilgit Baltistan 

Lahore, November 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):The recent heavy rains and floods across Pakistan impacted 33 million people and submerged one third of the country. One of the areas that was adversely affected by the flood is Kunais Village in Ghanche District, Gilgit Baltistan (GB). It needed immediate relief services, and the University of Lahore’s (UOL) Relief Team came forward to contribute and assist in the flood relief efforts for the people of Kunais village.

In the wave of this natural disaster, Kunais village was drowned, and the flash flood wiped out cattle, crops, and farmlands, while the people were forced to take refuge in hills and protective dykes to save their lives. The devastating flood damaged 46 houses and 324 kanals of agricultural land, resulting in losses of jewellery, house crockery, electronics, beds, and clothes worth 80 million rupees in the village.

To relieve the Kunais people of this stress, Ms. Farah Mahmood (Director, UOL Relief) and a team of volunteers recently visited water-ravaged Kunais, and donated beddings (pillows, mattress, quilt) for 32 houses.

The university is finalizing plans of reconstructing the destroyed houses, which was estimated to cost Rs 500,000 per house. Mobilizations are still going on within and outside the university community to alleviate the suffering of the affectees. Calling upon the authorities concerned and other donor agencies, Mrs. Mahmood highlighted the need for urgent support and appealed to them to participate in solving their social, domestic, and educational, health, and housing problems.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk

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NUST and Askari Bank inaugurate Digital Innovation Laboratory at Islamabad campus

Islamabad, November 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):NUST in collaboration with Askari Bank Limited (AKBL) inaugurated a Digital Innovation Laboratory, a first of its kind in Pakistan. The Askari Digital Innovation Lab will comprise a dedicated team of Data Scientists who will work on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence models to create new intellectual property (IP) for the bank.

Housed within the space of National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) located at the NUST Islamabad campus. This premises shall also serve as a base to attract and evaluate start-ups for potential investment by the Bank.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr Shehryar Ali Shah, Chief Digital Officer AKBL, and Dr Rizwan Riaz, Pro-Rector Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, NUST. Also present at the event were Mr Rashid Zaman Khan, Chief Information Officer AKBL, Mr Jawad Khalid Mirza, Chief Information Security Officer AKBL, Mr Muhammad Anwar Fareed, Director NUST Innovation and Commercialisation, and other senior officials from both organisations.

Mr Khurshid Zafar, Chief Operation Officer AKBL, conveyed his best wishes for the project and said that he aspires that this project will not only create IP for further customer acquisition, retention, and value-added services, but also serve as a recruitment and training ground for the next generation of Data Scientists for the bank. Speaking at the event, Dr Rizwan Riaz stressed the need for fostering partnerships between academia and industry which can grow to develop scalable digital products.

For more information, contact:
Director Press and Media Release
National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
NUST Campus, H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
UAN: +92-51-111-11-6878
Tel: +92-51-90851381
Fax: +92-51-90851382
Email: prnust@gmail.com
Website: www.nust.edu.pk

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Interactive Games and Activities

Faisalabad, November 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):NTU Character Building Society arranged an exuberant game show for fresh students on November 02, 2022. A large number of students participated. The objective of this interactive activity was focused on learning that helps make the educational process more collaborative and gives students more chances to engage with each other in meaningful ways.

The activity was broken down into four games back-to-back as popular childhood game, “Red Light, Green Light”, second game was Dalgona While some games were recreated without many changes, like tug-of-war. The final Round includes some different tasks to decide the winners, who are going to complete at first successfully. Top three winner Students were rewarded with gifts.

For more information, contact:
National Textile University (NTU)
Sheikhupura Road, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan
Tel: +92-41-9230081-90
Fax: +92-41-9230098
Email: info@ntu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.ntu.edu.pk

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UMT holds the 1st International Media and Communication Conference

Lahore, November 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):University of Management and Technology (UMT) School of Media and Communication Studies (SMCS) organized the 1st three-day International Media and Communication Conference (IMCC 2022) on the completion of two hundred years of Urdu Journalism.

Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Governor of the Punjab joined the chief guest of the conference. Director General UMT Abid Sherwani, Rector UMT Dr. Asif Raza, Dean School of Media and Communication Studies Dr. Prof. Anjum Zia, Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Shahid Munir, Senior Journalist Mujibur Rahman Shami, Salim Bukhari, Salman Ghani, Dr. Altaf, Former Senator Javed Jabbar, faculty, staff and a large number students participated in the conference.

100+ research papers on Urdu Journalism were presented at the conference to find the solutions to challenges faced by Urdu Journalism. Dean SMCS Dr. Prof. Anjum Zia in his opening remarks thanked Governor Punjab and other guests for joining the conference. She said that only UMT has got the honour of organizing a conference on the completion of two hundred years of Urdu journalism in Pakistan. She said that the purpose of this conference is to revive Urdu journalism by highlighting the importance of the Urdu language.

Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman congratulated the UMT administration for organizing a successful conference. He said that Urdu is a language that integrates all other languages. He said that in 1857 Urdu language played a very important role and so has a significant place in the whole world. He further said that the Urdu language and journalism have a very important role in the history of the subcontinent.

Governor Punjab said that journalists have always made sacrifices in the history of the subcontinent and I am deeply saddened by the recent death of journalist Arshad Sharif. In his concluding remarks, he said that the moral training of people is very important so that the system of justice can be practiced in society.

Rector UMT Dr. Asif Raza expressed his views and said that our problems and direction will be fixed by modifying our thinking. He said that we have no existence without Urdu journalism, so our young generation has to carry this mission forward.

He said that UMT is one of the best universities in Pakistan and will soon be among the best universities in the world because now we are competing with the best universities in the world. DG UMT Abid Sherwani expressed his views and said that this is the first international conference of its kind to be held on the Urdu language and Urdu journalism. Along with providing quality education to its students, UMT also provides successful and useful platforms like this conference to groom them, he added.

Senior Journalist Salman Ghani, while expressing his views, congratulated UMT for organizing this fruitful conference and said that a great person like Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad Shaheed has made a successful institution like UMT which is truly dedicated to the promotion of education. He said that UMT has a very important role in shaping the standards and character of the youth with education. The important role of the Urdu newspaper in the freedom of Pakistan can never be forgotten, he expressed.

Senior Journalist Mujibur Rahman Shami while addressing congratulated the management and media department of UMT for organizing the first International Conference on Urdu Journalism in Pakistan. He said that Urdu newspapers have fought battles for freedom. He said that generation after generation, Urdu literature has trained people. We have to further strengthen the importance and role of Urdu journalism, he advised.

Former Senator Javed Jabbar, highlighting the importance of the Urdu language and Urdu journalism, said that there is no example of the hardships and difficulties endured by journalists. At the conference, international journalists highlighted the role and importance of journalism through Zoom and said that journalism plays an important role in community building in a country.

For more information, contact:
Media Coordinator,
University of Management and Technology (UMT)
C-II, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-300-200
Tel: +92-42-35212801-10
Fax: +92-42-35184789
Email: yaqoob@umt.edu.pk
Website: https://www.umt.edu.pk

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Insurance cover and mental health: It is time for a rethink 

Karachi, November 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):​Kenya has made steady progress in providing mental health services to its population, but some areas require more work. Aga Khan’s University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI), in partnership with the Mental Health Alliance of Kenya (MHAK), hosted a consultative forum with stakeholders, including insurance companies, regulators, policyholders, private sector, academia, government and non-profit organizations, for a roundtable discussion on how to improve efficiency in the insurance sector concerning mental health.

Access to quality insurance for people with certain mental illnesses is still challenging. Many insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions except after a year. For example, some private insurance schemes do not cover neurodevelopmental disorders for individual cover holders. Additionally, all insurance providers have clauses that expressly exclude suicide victims or attempted suicide survivors from insurance claims or coverage.

“Mental health is a human right, and people living with mental illness should not be subjected to unnecessary barriers to access to care,” said Prof Zul Merali, BMI Founding Director.

The socioeconomic progress of people with mental illnesses is impacted, and this happens because of decreased productivity, strained relationships, and cycles of disadvantage and poverty. The health, quality of life, and life expectancy of people with mental health disorders can all be improved by investments in mental health, which can also lessen suffering.

“Treating mental illness has an actual return to the economy. Therefore, we should look at mental health coverage as an investment rather than an expenditure,” said Prof Lukoye Atwoli, BMI Associate Director and Dean, Medical College, East Africa Aga Khan University.

While the newly signed Mental Health (Amendment) Bill states that “a person with mental illness shall have the right of access to medical insurance for the treatment from public or private health insurance providers.” It is clear that there is a divide between practice and policy.

“It is an offence to discriminate against people with mental illnesses, and the law is clear. Moreover, mental health is an essential package in the Universal Health Coverage. Still, there needs to be proper pricing for mental illnesses,” said Dr Nasir Omar, Mental Health System and Policy Lead, Ministry of Health.

Insurance covers which limit mental health conditions include ordinary life, which has no coverage or extension; group life which charges a higher premium; medical, which gives a lower benefit; and group personal accident with the potential of denial of claim and sub-limits.

“We need to explore other options for ensuring coverage for mental health. For example, insurance companies can start by testing out excluded mental health coverage and using generated data after a while to make a clearer decision,” said Prof Zul Merali.

The forum was meant to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of claim resolutions for users of psychiatric services and to review the state of insurance regarding mental health services in Kenya. The stakeholders also explored avenues to bridge the gap between policy and practice and carry out comparative best practices studies.

For more information, contact:
Media Executive
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University (AKU)
Stadium Road, Karachi
Tel: +92-21-34930051
Fax: +92-21-34934294, +92-21-34932095
Cell: +92-301-8258028
Email: rasool.sarang@aku.edu, public.affairs@aku.edu​
Website: www.aku.edu