The implementation of the following trainings and international study tours. 

12 May: Official project launch at Islamabad Marriott or HEC.

Training 1: 12-13 May: Capacity building workshop on “Strengthening Skills for Becoming Successful Department Heads”. Information about scope of training, program, agenda, and venue will follow soon. The nominated participants should reflect a mix of departments, experience, gender, etc. 

Training 2: 8-9 June: Leadership Workshop on Strategic Planning followed by Study Tour to USA (18-29 July): This training is meant for VCs and Rectors of HESSA partner universities. It has two parts, starting with a two-day workshop in Islamabad on 8-9 June followed by study tour to USA (University of Utah and Washington DC) from 18-29 July. Detailed program will follow soon.

Training 3: 14-16 June: Training on Women Leadership in Higher Education followed by a Study Tour to USA (18-29 July): This training has several elements distributed over several months starting with three-days’ (14-16 June) workshop in Islamabad. A detailed concept note describing key features of the training is attached herewith for your information and its sharing with the nominated participants.

Training 4: 17-18 June: Strengthening Teaching and Learning of Soft Skills in Higher Education: This workshop is first in the series of trainings to be delivered as part of the faculty development program under the HESSA project. This training is divided into several blocks—a detailed concept note will follow soon.

Training 5: First Week of September-- Study Tour of Directors of students Affairs to USA: The purpose of this study tour is to introduce the Pakistani counterparts to policies and practices followed by the University of Utah and other US universities to streamline students support services. A detailed concept note describing key features of the training is attached herewith for your information and its sharing with the nominated participants.

Training 6: Three-Day Training Session on Teaching and Learning for Faculty of Public Universities as part of USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA): The University of Utah organised a three-day training session on teaching and learning for faculty of public universities as part of USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA). Hosted by the National University of Technology (NUTECH) Islamabad, the workshop was attended by 31 faculty members representing 16 partner universities of HESSA.

This activity marked the opening of a nine-month training program on strengthening teaching and learning at Pakistani Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The training program will be delivered in three phases including face-to-face workshops, online boot camps with weekly assignments using a learning management system, and concluding with a study tour of the University of Alabama.

The objective of this training was to a robust faculty development programme for the Pakistani HEIs related to teaching and learning and strengthening high-impact practices and soft skills in the classrooms. It was led by Associate Dean for International Programs at the University of Alabama, Dr Lisa Pawloski, and aimed to provide leaders’ tools for the faculty to develop their own relevant workshops and mentor faculty at their respective HEIs.

During these three days, participants were introduced to the extended training program, they learned about high-impact practices and the use of collaborative learning, and discussed the concepts of assessment and online learning. A specific focus across the sessions was on how the range of instructional practices can increase student learning and awareness of soft skills.

Training 7: USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) organised Two-Day Training Workshop for Partner Universities, to Kickstart Strategic Planning of the Campuses:  To hold kick-start strategic planning for the 16 partner Universities, Higher Education Strengthening System Activity (HESSA) conducted a Workshop at Marriott Islamabad from 26th to 27th October 2023. Prof. Dr. Khizer ul Haq, Registrar MUST, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khalique, Chief Finance Officer and Prof. Dr. Naeem Iqbal Ratyal, Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology participated in subject workshop.

This initiative by HESSA will support partner universities to adopt this practice by engaging with experienced planning experts with a successful track record of working with numerous American universities.The event was led by the University of Utah. Senior administrators and faculty members from sixteen (16) HESSA partner universities participated, including; Fatima Jinnah Women University.