LAHORE: A seminar on modern education methods on Tuesday brought together delegates from across the region to showcase latest technology designed specifically for the education sector to promote immersive, inclusive and 21st-century learning.

Microsoft in collaboration with the Punjab School Education Department, Tevta and Punjab Group of Colleges hosted the seminar, titled ‘Microsoft Edu Day’.

Punjab Minister for School Education Murad Raas, Tevta Chairman Ali Salman Siddiqui, Sindh Education Foundation Director (Technical) Shahpara Rizvi, Adviser to Punjab Education Minister Aasiya Khurram Agha, Higher Education Commission Consultant Asif Shahid Khan, Microsoft Country General Manger Abid Zaidi, Microsoft Country Education Lead Jibran Jamshad and Microsoft Education Transformation Lead Jaye Richards-Hill and other relevant stakeholders were present on the occasion.

The event provided a platform to explore possible partnerships to empower the growing youth population in the country. Some of the technologies showcased at the event included Office 365, Azure, Microsoft Imagine Academy Certifications and the Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning and Campus Management Solutions, which have been designed to drive better learning outcomes, more productive classroom time, and effective institutions.

Mr Raas said developing digital skills from primary school age had become a necessity, as the youth navigated an increasingly technological world. He said learners could develop digital skills for the 21st century job market with technology in the classrooms and educators should be empowered and provided with adequate resources to successfully conduct lessons in the classroom.

Mr Zaidi said technologies such as Microsoft Teams, Mine Craft and OneNote have played a big role in redefining learning through creating immersive and inclusive learning experiences that inspire lifelong learning. He said these tools were designed to make an educator’s job simpler so that they could devote time and resources to what matters most – teaching. “As Microsoft, we are committed to empowering every learner and educator by providing access to the best technologies in the classroom,” he added.

In addition to the technology showcase, Microsoft also announced the E2 Educators Exchange competition for local Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts. The competition will give local education leaders the opportunity to attend E2 in Sydney, Australia in 2020, and meet with global educators to explore industry trends and emerging technologies.

GCU VC: The US National Academy of Medicine has invited Government College University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi to address a workshop on social, behavioral and environmental enablers for healthy longevity in Washington DC on Nov 6.

Eminent experts from all over the world will attend this two-day workshop and discuss the challenges and opportunities as well as potential solutions and disruptive approaches to enhance social structures and living environments that will enable healthier and socially fulfilled lives and ultimately create thriving societies around the world.

Prof Zaidi will address the first session of the conference on ‘Understanding the linkages of social, behavioral, and environmental determinants across diverse populations, lifestyles and contexts’, drawing from his work on the Active Ageing Index and the Global AgeWatch Index.

LCWU: A three-day international symposium on “The Post-colonial and the Glocal” was held at the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

Two panel discussions, including on literature and linguistics, were held in the symposium.

IIUM English Department Dr Roziana Rosli held discussion on storytelling.

LCWU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Bushra Mirza said the objective of the symposium was aimed at developing academic and educational cooperation.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2019