LAHORE: The Unesco will help Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) in developing ‘green campus’.

Speaking at a seminar in connection with the Earth Day at the varsity here on Monday, Unesco Cluster Office director in Jakarta Shahbaz Khan said the United Nations Environment Programme would develop this project.

He said a ‘Green University Network’ was a functional network of higher education institutions that incorporated low carbon-climate resilience development strategies and sustainability aspects in their education, training, campus operations and enhanced student engagement.

“The networks are envisaged to assist universities in mainstreaming the Greening Universities Toolkit into their day-to-day functions through Green Campus,” he said.

LCWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi said through this joint venture the university staff and students would be provided with a selection of strategies, tools and resources for establishing green, resource-efficient and low-carbon campuses.

Dr Qureshi said the theme for this year’s Earth Day was ‘Trees for Earth’. “Trees are protectors of the environment and save earth from a range of devastating problems. They purify air by absorbing pollutants, prevent flooding, filter water and provide habitat for biodiversity. Rapid deforestation and change in land use is triggering climate change,” she added.

Dr Arifa Tahir, head of Environmental Science LCWU, said that environmentalists had some major challenges to fight and overcome.

She urged the civil society to join hands with the public sector in efforts to control environmental pollution and deforestation.

Tevta: The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) plans to train 28,000 uncertified skilled force by June through the Recognition of Prior Learning programme.

Tevta Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh told a meeting here on Monday that it had issued nationally as well as globally recognised certificates to 19,000 people under the programme so far.

“Under this initiative, uncertified skilled workers are being certified after going through the theory and practical trade examination. This programme has been designed according to the requirements of national and international market. Integrated assessment (knowledge, skill and attitude) theory and practical are the basis for self-assessment. It is completely free and is helpful for skilled manpower, who has not acquired formal skilled training,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2016