The International Association of Universities (IAU), the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya’s eHealth center, and the IAU SDG-3 Cluster jointly organized an International Webinar on “Addressing Mental Health and Well-being in Universities” on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Lev Raphael, Coordinator of the eHealth Centre at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, moderated the session. Many public health professionals and representatives from universities around the world attended. Pam Fredman, Former Head of IAU; Elin Breckroy, Director of Equity, Safety, and Well-being at Western University of Ontario; Stev Leive, Mental Health Manager at Sydney University; Galuh Suryandari, PhD student at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, Gadja Mada University in Indonesia; and Joy Louise Onoria, Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist at Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Uganda, addressed the audience.
The speakers talked about mental health challenges, issues, causes, consequences, and impacts in universities around the globe and the way forward to tackle such challenges and issues.
The speakers discussed the causes of mental health issues among university students, staff, and faculty, highlighting factors such as anxiety, frustration, and tension that can lead to severe outcomes, including suicides and broader societal decline. Key contributing elements include job insecurity, work overload, negative attitudes from superiors, academic and social pressures, isolation, an intense academic environment, and financial stress. They also explored ways to address and reduce these challenges.
Counseling services at all universities, proper funding for research and innovation to tackle such challenges, training sessions for students, staff, and faculty members, adequate peer support, prioritization of mental health of the people, especially of the young youth in governments’ policies are the primary way forward to counter such challenges, which the experts discussed and emphasized that governments around the globe take quick actions in this regard.
The Manager and Assistant Quality Assurance Directorate represented NUMS in this beneficial session.
Relevance: SDG-3; Good Health and Well-Being
SDG-17: Partnership for The Goals
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The Greenwich University, a private research university located in Karachi and one of the leading business HEIs in Pakistan, organized and hosted an International Symposium on the "Importance of Internationalization & Sustainability in Quality Assurance" on Monday, June 3, 2024. The session commenced with a documentary video highlighting Greenwich University's journey and achievements.
Dr. Rab Nawaz, Director of QEC, initiated the session with a welcoming note to guest speakers and all participants. He briefed the participants on internationalization and the session's theme, shedding light on its interlinkages with quality assurance. The primary objective was to provide a global perspective to enhance our understanding of student quality through shared best practices from distinguished speakers from Australia, Mauritius, and Pakistan. The secondary objective aimed to promote collaboration, address challenges, and identify opportunities in integrating internationalization and sustainability into our quality assurance framework to innovate our approaches and explore emerging trends, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and resilience of our quality assurance system.
The guest speakers at the international symposium were:
The guest speakers highlighted the importance of internationalization and sustainability and their integration into the quality assurance framework. They shared best practices from their experiences, their respective institutions' practices, and challenges faced in the integration process. The forum emphasized the necessity of practical work in internationalization and sustainability, requiring out-of-the-box efforts. Examples given by the speakers included the interlinkages among universities, student exchange culture, the establishment of branch campuses in different countries, and SDGs-related curriculum development.
Q & A session was held at the end of each guest speaker's talk. Participants posed queries to the speakers and shared their ideas for practical implementation in the quality assurance system. The NUMS quality assurance directorate team attended the conference virtually and received participation certificates from Greenwich University.
Reference: SDG-4 Quality Education.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.JPG)
The Newport Institute of Communications and Economics (NICE) Karachi hosted an international webinar on "Approaches of Quality Enhancement in Higher Education" on Friday, June 28, 2024. The session, moderated by Syeda Zeerak Fatima, Manager of QEC NICE, was graced by a diverse group of quality assurance professionals and academicians from around the globe. Syeda Zeerak Fatima introduced the three keynote speakers, Dr Saqib Rahman, Dr Ammar Alwadah, and Dr Denisa Bogdana Abrudan, who each brought a unique perspective to the discussion.
Dr Saqib Rehman deliberated on curriculum revision, faculty development, industry-academia linkages, the use of the latest technology and infrastructure development to enhance the quality of higher education. He also talked about the commercialization and privatization of higher education and learning, especially concerning Pakistan, where he linked the crisis of quality enhancement in higher education with the governance crisis and lack of vision and farsightedness. He discussed the importance of industry-academia linkages for the country's Socioeconomic development and the overall quality enhancement in higher education.
Dr Denisa talked about the power of innovation in higher education. She told the audience that the twenty-first century is the age of information revolution, globalization and technological revolution. She further told the participants that the global experts ranked top universities, like MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Imperial College London, and the University of Oxford, on the above-stated parameters. She emphasized innovation and technological advancement in higher education to improve its quality and to have a better and more developed World ahead.
Dr Ammar Alwadah also emphasized the importance of industry-academia linkages, innovation, and a technologically driven higher education system. He shared inspiring examples from Saudi Arabia's Education system to authenticate his arguments, leaving the audience inspired and well-informed.
The session concluded with a rigorous QA session in which the participants asked multiple questions of the experts. These questions ranged from the practical implementation of the discussed strategies to the potential challenges in their execution, and were answered satisfactorily, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the topics discussed.
.jpeg)
.png)
.jpeg)
.png)
The International Conference on Accreditation and Internationalization in South Asian Higher Education Institutions was held on Monday, 03 June 2024, at the HEC Secretariat, Islamabad. The conference was jointly organized by the Quality Assurance Agency QAA, HEC, and FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences. The gathering marked the culmination of the ERASMUS+ (European Union's programme to support Education, Training, Youth and Sport in Europe) funded project titled “Strategic Support for Accreditation of Programs and Internationalization at South Asian Higher Education Institutions.”
The aims of conference included:
● Participants could learn from international experts hailing from Portugal, Germany, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan on the best practices and strategic approaches for internationalizing South Asian universities.
● Explore the intricacies of navigating the international quality assurance process, developing effective plans for international accreditation, and fostering global collaborations.
● Connect with representatives from leading universities across South Asia and Europe to exchange ideas and explore potential partnerships.
Dr Amir Qayyum, Project Coordinator SSAPI (Strategic Support for Accreditation of Programs and Internationalization) at South Asian Higher Education Institutes, shared a keynote presentation at the start of the conference. Furthermore, guest speakers from Portugal, Germany, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan shared their experiences and achievements and gave presentations regarding international accreditation of various programs including Engineering, Computer Science, Management Science, Medical Science, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Psychology programs.
Dr Zia Ul-Qayyum, Executive Director HEC and Mr Nasir Shah, Director General QAA HEC, graced the conference with their presence and shared their ongoing efforts in internationalization and latest developments in advancing effective QA mechanism in Pakistan and beyond.
Conference provided participants an attractive chance for networking opportunities with delegates from five countries and eight foreign universities, facilitated through interactive sessions and dedicated breaks. Dr Erum Monis Deputy Director Quality Assurance NUMS attended the conference physically, while QA team members participated virtually.
Relevance: SDG-4 ; Quality Education
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) (FCCU), Lahore, organized an International Seminar on Leadership Role in Quality Assurance on February 15, 2024.
The event commenced with Dr. Nayer Fardows, Registrar & Director (QA), FCCU, initiating the proceedings. Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton, Rector of Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), delivered welcome remarks, setting the tone. Following that, Dr. James Appleton, President Emeritus of the University of Redlands, USA, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing adapting quality assurance practices to organizational culture. Dr. Shahid Munir, Chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, expressed appreciation for the keynote speech and endorsed an accommodative leadership model. Subsequently, Dr. Rukhsana David, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at FCCU, highlighted the importance of consistent effort to achieve high-quality standards. The audience actively participated in interactive sessions, posing questions on various topics. The speakers satisfactorily addressed queries, leading to a productive exchange of ideas. Finally, the seminar concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Douglas Trimble, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Forman Christian College.
Dr. Erum Monis, Deputy Director of the Quality Assurance Directorate at NUMS, represented the institution at the hybrid session, extending NUMS's participation in the event per FCCU's invitation.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
In the framework of the UN SDG Summit 2023, UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNESCO-IESALC) and United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) organized a joint webinar on SDGs implementation in higher education on Monday, September 18, 2023. NUMS, as one of leading medical universities of Pakistan and a member university of UNAI, was invited to attend the webinar along with worldwide universities.
Objective of the session was the discussion on the decade of action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in the context of the ongoing global challenges, the role of institutions of higher education in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is more critical than ever. Webinar was divided into four parts:
1. Frances Pedro, Director UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education and Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Global Communications started the session by opening remarks on this webinar and efforts of improving higher education by UNAI and UNESCO-IESALC.
2. Victoria Galan Morus, Chief of Research & Analysis and Jaime Roser Policy Analyst from UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education presented a preliminary version of SET4HEI (Sustainability Evaluation Tool for Higher Education Institutions), a self-assessment tool developed by UNESCO-IESALC to improve how higher education institutions evaluate the contribution to the 2030 Agenda.
3. Omar Hernandez, Program Manager and Public Information Officer of the United Nations Academic Impact shared a set of guidelines for leaders of higher education institutions jointly developed by UNAI and UNESCO-IESALC.
4. Representatives of universities from Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and the United States, shared their good practices being followed in their respective regional HEIs. This selection of good practices cases has been compiled by UNAI, showing outstanding contributions of higher education institutions to the SDGs.
NUMS QA Dte team attended this webinar. Matias Bart, UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education, the host of the session, thanked all the participants of the session after Question & Answers at the end.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
HEC had invited selected university to join in for a Masterclass on Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024. Dr Bashir Khan, Coordinator for Rankings opened the session, while THE’s Duncan Ross, Chief Data Officer and Hannah Peacock, Impact Ranking Product Owner were the main presenters on Aug 29, 2023.
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We use carefully Calibrated indicators are used to provide comprehensive and balanced comparison across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.
The master class explained in detail, the methodology of the Impact Ranking 2024 and compared the progress of Pakistani Universities in the world arena based on the results of 2023 rankings. Duncan Ross highlighted that the Emphasis of Impact Rankings is on research, teaching, stewardship and outreach against the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 Indicators and 223 unique targets. It allows participation of all undergraduate or postgraduate higher education institutions, hence the agenda across the world is equity and not equality. The purpose of this ranking is gauging sustainability measures taken, partnerships developed, equity across the world, inclusion of every community, sufficient resources and long term thinking.
The 2023 Impact Rankings was the fifth edition, and the overall ranking included 1,591 universities from 112 countries/regions.
It was shown through graphic representation that how Pakistani University participation has grown over the years. 73 institutions from Pakistan participated in THE Impact Ranking 2023. In terms of participation, the most popular SDG worldwide is SDG4 and the most popular in Pakistan is also SDG4. A total of 66 institutions from Pakistan submitted to the Impact ranking in 2022 and 73 in 2023 (an increase of 10.6%).
The key points for data submission and dates for Impact Ranking 2024 were announced in the session. It was explained that universities may use the most appropriate annual cycle that best fits their data, but ends in 2022 for the Ranking of 2024.
It was reiterated that for correct research data analysis, THE suggests that universities should make sure that they are correctly identified in Scopus and research relevance is clear for the defined SDG(s) so that impact of the research can be evaluated by THE and compared with world and regional universities.
NUMS was represented in the session by Consultant QA, Deputy Director QA, NUMS’ Focal Person for Impact Ranking and remaining Quality Assurance team.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A 2-day International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) on July 12-13, 2023 was hosted by Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT). The conference served as a platform for researchers, scholars, professionals, QECs and policymakers from around the globe to convene and exchange their ideas, research findings, and best practices related to sustainable development.
Day 1 - July 12, 2023:
The opening day of the SDGS conference was inaugurated by esteemed dignitaries, including prominent academics and government officials. The event began with an inspiring keynote address that emphasized the significance of sustainable development goals in addressing global challenges and promoting a more equitable and resilient future.
The conference featured a diverse range of sessions and parallel tracks covering various aspects of sustainable development goals. These tracks included:
Environmental Sustainability: Discussions and presentations revolved around topics such as renewable energy, climate change mitigation, conservation efforts, waste management, and sustainable practices for environmental preservation.
Social and Economic Development: Experts presented research on inclusive growth, poverty reduction, education for sustainable development, healthcare access, and social policies that contribute to equitable development.
Technological Advancements for Sustainability: This track explored innovative technologies, digital solutions, and engineering advancements that can foster sustainable development across industries and sectors.
Policy and Governance for Sustainability: Policymakers and researchers deliberated on effective governance models, policy frameworks, and international cooperation to address sustainability challenges.
Day 2 - July 13, 2023:
The second day of the conference continued with engaging sessions and thought-provoking presentations. The parallel tracks allowed attendees to focus on areas that aligned with their research interests and expertise.
The conference also hosted several enlightening panel discussions, where experts from different disciplines deliberated on multidimensional sustainability challenges and proposed integrated solutions. Panel discussions fostered meaningful debates and provided valuable insights into the complexities of sustainable development.
Researchers from various universities and institutions showcased their cutting-edge research through paper presentations. These research papers covered a wide array of topics, showcasing the depth and diversity of sustainable development studies being conducted worldwide.
Networking and Collaboration:
The SDGS conference provided ample opportunities for networking and collaboration among attendees. Scholars, academics, and industry professionals interacted to form potential research partnerships and explore avenues for joint projects promoting sustainable development.
Deputy Director QA, Dr. Erum Monis, Manager QA and Data Analyst represented the National University of Medical Sciences and were shared e certificates for their active participation in the event.
Among 100 plus international and 20 plus national speakers here are few mentionable speakers
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A masterclass on Pakistan’s Growing Global Impact: a Data Masterclass by the Times Higher Education (THE) was jointly organized by Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and University of Lahore (UoL) on January 25, 2023 at HEC, Islamabad. Consultant Quality Assurance, Air Cdre Muhammad Ismail, SI (M), (Retd), Dy Director QA, Dr Erum Monis and Manager QA, Ms Sumiya Nauman represented NUMS in the masterclass. The event was attended by the participants from various universities, which was focused on the criteria and methodology of Impact Rankings (IR) and World University Rankings (WuR) by THE.
HEC representative welcomed the participants and invited Chairman HEC, Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed to shed light on Ranking of Universities from National and International perspectives. Dr Mukhtar through very comprehensive presentation shared various types of rankings and the status/number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from Pakistan included in Asia and World rankings over the years. The criteria and parameters of various ranking bodies were also shared along with their history and future plans. The major challenges that HEC and HEIs are facing while their participation in rankings were also discussed in addition to the dynamic parameters of various ranking systems.
Mr Phil Batty, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Times Higher Education (THE) was invited as a guest speaker. During his presentation, Mr Batty appreciated the interest and increasing participation of Pakistan’s HEIs in THE multiple rankings. He focused his presentation on Impact Rankings (IR) and World University Rankings (WuR) methodology. Main parameters, criteria and how the results for Impact Rankings and World University Rankings (WuR) are analyzed at THE were also discussed. Mr Batty also elaborated the performance analysis of Pakistan’s HEIs, which also included the best performing areas from 2018 till 2023 through parameter wise score. At the end of the session, the participant’s questions/queries were responded by the guest speaker and chairman HEC in a well-defined manner. The session was concluded with the vote of thanks to guest speaker from THE followed by a souvenir presentation to him by Chairman HEC.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) publishes annual ranking of universities called the QS World University Rankings, which is highly regarded and widely used by research by various stake holders for different purposes. The rankings take into consideration various criteria such as academic reputation, research impact, student-to-faculty ratio, international diversity, and other factors. The methodology used to determine the rankings involves surveys of academic and employer reputation, research citations per faculty, international faculty, student ratios, and more.
In addition to the world university ranking, QS is providing a framework to show how universities are taking action to tackle the world’s greatest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges through their new QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2023.
The new ranking will evaluate the social and environmental impact of universities as a center of education and research as well as a major employer with the operational costs and sustainability challenges of any large and complex organization.
A webinar was held on the topic of QS Sustainability Ranking, which was led by Dr. Drew MacFarlane who introduced the methodology for the said ranking which will include indicators that demonstrate:
Dr. Drew shared that the education sector is one of the few sectors that can support, promote, and contribute to achieving all the 17 UN SDGs. Universities are essential to achieving the SDGs because they can equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to address sustainability challenges and research that advances the sustainable development agenda.
The webinar was attended by a diverse group of participants, including students, faculty, and university administrators. The attendees actively participated in the discussion and asked several questions about the ranking methodology, how universities can improve their sustainability practices, and the benefits of being ranked in the QS Sustainability Ranking. During the webinar the timeline was discussed with participants.
NUMS was represented in the session by Dr. Erum Monis, Deputy Director, Sumiya Nauman and Asif Imran, Managers, Quality Assurance Dte.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
A Masterclass on ‘The impact of international talent on university performance’ was conducted online by Times Higher Education (THE) on March 20, 2023. The session highlighted how universities that invest in recruiting international talent benefit from a halo effect that improves overall performance and empowers partnerships and collaborations, research excellence, quality teaching, and reputation; metrics that are reflected in THE’s World University Rankings. Deputy Director Quality Assurance (QA) – Dr. Erum Monis from NUMS actively participated in the session.
Following were the presenters from THE for the Masterclass;
The team of experts shared through their individual presentations on powerful, data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, their products and services to enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions. They shared insights that showed between the years 2018 and 2023 Hiring Subscribers(universities) have improved in the Psychology, Business and Economics, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, Education, Law, Clinical and Health, Computer Science, Arts and Humanities, Life Sciences subjects in comparison with The World, but has dropped in none. The presenters also shared case studies in this regard.
Session ended with token of thanks and the queries of the participants were answered by the experts.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)