KARACHI: Pakistan-UK cooperation in education pledged
KARACHI, Sept 8: British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, Hamish St. Claire Daniel, has expressed hope that cooperation between the UK and Pakistan would surpass in the field of education.
He stated this at a ceremony held on Friday for the MA and postgraduate diploma graduates of the study programmes offered by the Institute of Education, the University of London, in cooperation with Aga Khan University for Educational Development - sponsored by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom.
Highlighting the significance of education, the deputy high commissioner said that cooperation in the field of education, particularly higher education, was essential as it helped the process of evolution and improved understanding among people pertaining to different parts of the world with varied religious, social and cultural backgrounds.
He said that concerted efforts were being made through close collaboration between the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Commonwealth Scholarship Commission as well as British Council’s educational programmes.
He also referred to strong presence of Britishers of Pakistani origin across his country, a strong linkage between the two countries.
With regard to economic and trade relations between the two countries, he said that the balance of trade was tilted in Pakistan’s favour yet was hailed and appreciated by his country as it was a source of relationship.
Reiterating urgency to bring people of this world close to one another, Lady Elizabeth Vallance of the Institute of Education, the University of London, said that her institution would shortly launch two new courses leading to the degrees of Master of Teaching and Master of Arts in Education (Muslim Societies and Civilization).
“We are also in discussion about ways in which we can contribute educating children in British schools about the Muslim world,” she said.
Thanking the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, she mentioned that the graduates, presented at the ceremony, were the first in a series of student cohorts sponsored by the Commission under its scholarship scheme. The commission was said to be sponsoring another group of students who are taking the same course MA in Education and International Development, a programme offered by the Institute of Education, the University of London, in collaboration with the Aga Khan University-IED.
“We recently learned that it has agreed to offer scholarship awards to other 18 students who will begin their studies next month,” she said adding that this postgraduate course is making significant contribution to international development and global cooperation.
In her closing address, Lady Elizabeth Vallance mentioned that the institute had students from over 90 countries around the world and quoted such diversity to be a valuable source of learning.
She observed that the presentation ceremony was also an occasion of reunion for the graduates and a celebration of the institute as a global community.
Eighteen of the twenty graduates were conferred degrees for successfully completing their two-year programme, while two overseas candidates could not attend the ceremony.
Prof Dylan William, Deputy Director of the Institute of Education, the University of London, highlighted the MA-EID programme as one of the best examples of the institute's international dimension. He said that this postgraduate programme, which had a focus on education and international development with optional studies in economics and health, had brought together AKU-IED and the Institute of Education, the University of London.
AKU President Firoz Rasul said that the MA-EID programme had substantially enhanced the participants’ understanding and capacity for conducting and engaging in research and scholarship activities. “It has enabled them to appreciate and understand international development perspectives and issues,” he said.
He also acknowledged the importance of AKU-IED’s collaborations with the international institutions for capacity building of its faculty and staff through professional development programmes such as MA-EID programme.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by AKU Board of Trustees Chairman Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, AKU Acting Provost Dr David Taylor, AKU-IED Director Dr Muhammad Memon and Course Leader Dr Anil Khamis.—APP
