In continuation of its programme to encourage the outstanding university teachers and to acknowledge their services, Higher Education Commission (HEC) held a ceremony in connection with the Best University Teacher Award 2015 here on Tuesday. As many as 47 teachers were conferred the awards along with Rs 100, 000 and a souvenir to each for their exceptional performance in teaching. The awardees were selected from the universities across Pakistan on the basis of their performance after fulfillment of a meritorious evaluation/ nomination criteria.
Engineer Baligh-ur-Rehman, State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training attended the event as a chief guest, while Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC was also present. Speaking on the occasion, Engineer Baligh-ur-Rehman appreciated the HEC initiative and stated that, "if we have to make progress, we have to respect our teachers". He maintained that the Islamic teachings also accord great esteem to teachers, as they build a nation's character apart from fulfilling their professional duties. He urged the teachers to spread optimism and counter disappointment prevailing in the society.
Referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he underlined that the world rating agencies are now showing positive indicators regarding Pakistan, as the country has become an emerging economy. Pakistan is rapidly leaping ahead to eliminate terrorism and overcome energy crisis, the minister said.
He said that the government has increased higher education budget remarkably, adding that the figures have reached Rs 91 billion this year. He informed that not only higher education, but primary, secondary and technical educations are also being paid due attention. Mentioning various uplift programmes including Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme, Prime Minister's Fee Reimbursement Scheme, and establishment of National Curriculum Council as well as Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Committee, the minister said that the government is heading toward turning the country into a knowledge economy. He stressed the need for promotion of applied research in the country and highlighted the government's incentive programme for special persons acquiring education in different higher education institutions.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that HEC holds the Best University Teacher Award ceremony every year to recognise the performance and services of teachers, adding that merit is strictly followed in the selection of awardees. He said the HEC, since its inception in 2002, has been contributing to building a knowledge economy.
He highlighted the role of teachers in social uplift. "Being academic leaders, teachers have a huge responsibility of training the youth for social progress. Play your role in addressing differences developed in the nation on different grounds," the chairman emphasised.
This Best University Teacher Award ceremony is organised every year under the HEC initiative to recognise the contributions made by teachers and to become a catalyst for others to accelerate their efforts in the fields of teaching and research. The programme envisages up-gradation of the quality of research through staff development and provision of better facilities. It provides monetary as well as self-esteemed incentives to the teachers of universities and DAIs through awards, mementos and certificates. It also aims to develop a changed atmosphere to help lift the standard of education and research in the institutions of higher education in the country.
The awardees from the centre included Dr Waseem Shahzad, Head of Computer Science Department, FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad; Professor Dr Sohail Nadeem, Professor Dept. of Mathematics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; Dr Muhammad Aftab Rafiq, Associate Professor, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering; Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad; Professor Dr Nabi Bux Jumani, Professor Department of Education, International Islamic University, Islamabad; Dr Amina Jameel, Associate Professor Department of Computer Engineering, Bahria University, Islamabad; Dr Muhammad Shafique Anjum, Assistant Professor Department of Urdu Language & Literature and others.-PR
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