Pakistan's Institutions of Higher Education Impacting Community
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Issue V CommPact Spring 2016 Pakistan’s Institutions of Higher Education Impacting Community through PCTN CommPact A PCTN Publication Spring 2016 In Focus 05 Advocacy/ Awareness 11 Health 19 Education 29 CHAPTERS Disaster Relief 41 Environment Protection 45 Community Empowerment and Outreach 49 Misc News 57 Editor > Gul-e-Zehra Graphics & layout > Kareem Muhammad PSA Directorate-NUST Editor’s Note I am pleased to share with you the 5th edition of Pakistan Chapter of The Talloires tual learning for students. Network (PCTN) newsletter. Like the previous newsletters, this publication also In March 2016 the 3rd PCTN seminar was held on the theme of ‘Role of Universities shares the outstanding community service work being carried out by students of in Community Development and Empowerment’. It was attended by Vice Chancel- PCTN member universities all across Pakistan. The activities that our members share lors, faculty and students of PCTN member universities. Rector NUST Engr Muham- motivate us to do better in reaching out to and serving our communities. mad Asghar and Air Commodore Shabbir gave key note speeches, which inspired At the end of last year PCTN members elected a new Steering Committee for the the attendees to make all possible efforts for the betterment of Pakistan. A panel next 2 years. We hope that the leadership of the newly elected committee would discussion on ‘Contributions towards school education’ was held. After the seminar, guide and steer the Chapter towards promoting the cause of community service meeting of the newly elected Steering Committee was also held in which the way throughout Pakistan. forward was chalked out. In December 2015, the PCTN member universities in Rawalpindi-Islamabad region As always, I would like to thank the focal persons of member institutions, without met and started a collaborative school up gradation project which would strength- whose support, and contributions publication of this newsletter would not have en and promote better linkages for exchange of community service ideas and mu- been possible. Photo Courtesy HITEC Photo STEERING COMMITTEE Chair PCTN PCTN Secretariat Housed at NUST, Islamabad Engr. Muhammad Asghar Rector National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) Patron Members Chairman HEC 1. Dr Talat Naseer Pasha Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Chair Lahore Engr. Muhammad Asghar (Rector NUST) 2. Ms Seema Mughal Vice Chancellor Greenwich University, Advisor Karachi Mr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha 3. Engr Imran Rahman Vice Chancellor Institute of Space Technology, Chief Coordinator Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Islamabad 4. Dr Muhammad Asif Khan Vice Chancellor Karakoram International University, Senior Coordinator Dr. Muhammad Safdar Gilgit 5. Dr Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui Director Sukkur Institute of Business Administration, Manager Publications & Communication Ms. Gul-e-Zehra Sukkur 6. Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture, Faisalabad IN FOCUS IN FOCUS IN FOCUS INFOCUS PCTN holds a seminar on ‘Role of Universities in Community Development and Empowerment’ Pakistan Chapter of The Talloires Network end of his speech, he also mentioned some do research pertinent to the problems facing (PCTN) held its 3rd seminar titled ‘Role of commendable community service activities the community, and provide every possible Universities in Community Development of the member universities across Pakistan. support may it be financial, physical or emo- and Empowerment’ at the main campus of This was followed by a video message by tional. National University of Sciences and Technol- Executive Director of the Talloires Network, The Rector praised the NUST community ser- ogy (NUST) on Wednesday March 30, 2016. Mr Robert Hollister. He congratulated eve- vice efforts, mentioning the coveted Macjan- Chairman HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad was the ryone on the exponential growth of PCTN net Prize that was awarded to the university PCTN / Spring 2016 - Newsletter chief guest at the event. Students, faculty and termed it a source of inspiration for all for ‘Education for Empowerment’ program in and Vice Chancellors from PCTN member the other TN chapters around the world. He 2015. He also spoke highly of NUST entrepre- 6 universities attended the seminar. also expressed great appreciation for Rec- neurship competitions, like DISCOVER and Chief Coordinator PCTN Dr. Abdul Ghafoor tor NUST Engr. Muhammad Asghar and ac- FICS, as they promoted a culture of social en- welcomed the guests and apprised them knowledged his importance as the Steering trepreneurship. of the fast-paced growth the network had Committee member of The Talloires Network The Rector NUST encouraged further en- made in a period less than three years. He at Tufts University, USA. hancement of the collaboration among the said it was quite heartening to note that the In his keynote address, Rector NUST Engr universities of Pakistan under the umbrella of number of PCTN member universities had Muhammad Asghar shed light on what com- PCTN. He concluded his address by present- risen to 65 from initial 35, and that several munity development and empowerment ing facts and figures about as many as 252 universities are working in close liaison with was and how universities could play their completed projects ranging from healthcare each other to mutually benefit from various part in it through civic engagement activi- to quality education. After Rector NUST Vice civic engagement initiatives. Towards the ties. He maintained that the academia must Chancellor University of Agriculture, Faisal- INFOCUS abad Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and Vice Chancel- setup by a single person’s determination the Talloires Network (PCTN) Dr Muhammad lor Veterinary and Animal Sciences Dr Talat to give back to their country. The panelists Safdar, covering PCTN’s progress so far. Ac- Naseer Pasha talked about the contributions urged the students and faculty to not focus tivities of PCTN were discussed that included of their respective universities in the area of on the lack of resources but on how to ben- publishing biannual newsletters, cross train- Community engagement. efit those around them one at a time. They ings of different universities in the areas of The chief guest, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad in his said that educating the underprivileged is a Community Service Learning, a website speech emphasized the importance of role of responsibility that every educated person in which is linked to community service pages universities in community development. He this country has towards those who are less of member universities, Best Community said the need of the hour was not just excep- fortunate. At the end the students posed Service Projects Awards and a collaborative tional students with extraordinary grades, questions to the panelists and expressed project by 5 universities in the Rawalpindi- but well-rounded human-beings who ben- their views on the topic. Islamabad region. He also highlighted the efitted others around them. He talked of the After the seminar PCTN’s newly elected Steer- achievements of different PCTN universities importance of family structure and of know- ing Committee met. Rector NUST welcomed at regional and international forum. This was ing our neighbour and reaching out to our the Steering committee members and repre- followed by a discussion on agenda points. communities as the purpose of our creation sentatives to the meeting. He stressed upon Support was requested from the Steering was ‘to benefit others around us’. He also the importance to show the youth a positive Committee members for expansion of mem- announced that HEC is going to introduce side of Pakistan. Rector NUST and VC UVAS bership. It was decided to focus more on the mandatory Service Learning courses at HEIs agreed to hold a seminar at UVAS and later at use of social media/websites for promotion in Pakistan. He mentioned how HEC and Brit- other universities on the topic of Community of PCTN members’ activities. There was a dis- ish Council were collaborating successfully Service. After this a presentation was given cussion to find a suitable media partner for to run a Civic Engagement program in 42 by Senior Coordinator Pakistan Chapter of more projection of community service ac- universities in Pakistan. He commended Rec- tor NUST in bringing together universities of Pakistan for this noble cause of serving com- PCTN / Spring 2016 - Newsletter munities. The second session of the seminar was a 7 panel discussion on how students can con- tribute towards school education in Paki- stan.The session was moderated by Dr Irtiza Ali Shah. The esteemed panelists included Air Commodore Shabbir A Khan (R) (CEO Rashidabad City), Dr Ayesha Khan (CEO Re- search and Development Solutions), and Mrs Asma Tughral (Head Saya School, Islam- abad). Students and faculty present were really inspired by how Rashidabad City was INFOCUS tivities in electronic and print media. Theme for next PCTN conference was discussed and it was agreed that it should focus on impact evaluation of community work being done by different universities. Suggestions from all Steering Committee members would be sought on this. It was stressed that PCTN members should participate on internation- al level in different programs and contests of community service so that the world knows about all the exceptional work being done here in the field. ‘A Global Classification for Recognizing University Civic Engagement’ Panel discussion held at 30th Anniversary of Campus Compact Campus Compact is a U.S based coalition of nied yet the question the panel put forth was nearly 1,100 colleges and universities com- are the rankings all inclusive? Are the rank- mitted to the public purposes of higher edu- ings comprehensive? cation. It enables campuses to develop stu- Dr. Pilar Aramburuzabala from the Spanish dents’ citizenship skills and forge effective Service Learning Network, Ms Gul-e-Zehra PCTN / Spring 2016 - Newsletter community partnerships. Its resources sup- of the Pakistan Chapter of Talloires Network, port faculty and staff as they pursue commu- Dr Hector Opazo from the Chilean Service- 8 nity-based teaching and scholarship in the Learning Network (Red Nacional de Aprendi- service of positive change.