ISLAMABAD: The first cohort of 41 fellows graduated from the inaugural National Faculty Development Programme (NFDP), a four-week intensive training course conducted online due to the spread of the coronavirus.

The graduates are fellows of the Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP) programme, funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which supports universities in obtaining the services of new PhDs for a year in anticipation of their recruitment to regular faculty positions, a statement issued by the HEC on Wednesday said.

It said the NFPD course was organised by the newly established National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE). It aimed to provide new faculty with skills and competencies they would need to be successful academics.

These include courses in teaching effectiveness, including online teaching, research management, and professional practice.

The NFDP 2020 course is to be delivered between now and August 2020 in 12 cohorts of 40 participants each.

In his keynote address, HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri congratulated the graduating fellows and the organisers and instructors of the programme.

He said the success of the programme would come from the work of the participants. Lamenting the deteriorating in higher education quality in Pakistan, he said the HEC’s current focus is on re-establishing the value of degrees and certifications.

In her welcome address, NAHE Rector Dr Shaheen Sardar Ali introduced the NFDP 2020 and congratulated the IPFP fellows.

She said that the programme aims to provide a virtual, immersive, and integrated world-class learning experience that will prepare the participants for their academic careers.

The resource persons of the programme, Dr Steve Burian, Dr Shazia Awan, Dr Hassaan Khan and Dr Saima Sherazi, also shared their experiences of the four-week programme and said they hoped that it will go a long way for participants to enhance and develop skills needed to become a good teacher and a successful researcher.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2020