Dr. Sehrish Shafi, Assistant Professor, Department of English, represented Mirpur University of Science and Technology MUST, Mirpur AJ&K in a webinar titled “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity in collaboration with the University of Utah, the University of Alabama and IEE Power of International Education for HESSA partner Universities in Pakistan on Friday, March 08, 2024.

Dr. Susan Carvalho, Associate Provost & Dean of the Graduate School at The University of Alabama, moderated the webinar. Alongside Dr. Sehrish Shafi, other panelists included Dr. Huma Ayub from the Department of Business Administration at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Dr. Sbabana Nisar, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi and Dr. Tayyaba Noor, Associate Professor in the School of Chemical & Materials Engineering at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad.

As the moderator of the session; Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate School, University of Alabama, Dr. Susan Carvalloh shared her thoughts on how HESSA training played an integral role to shape and refine the leadership skills of the brilliant women of all sixteen partner universities of HESSA. Dr. Kenneth Holland, Chief of Party for HESSA, and Dr. Kate Maloney, Education Director for USAID/Pakistan, welcomed the group and emphasised the important role USAID plays in promoting equity alongside inclusion of women in various capacities. The panelists discussed their perspectives on leadership in higher education as well as their experiences as women who had ascended the leadership ladder.