LAHORE:Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) organised a contract distribution ceremony for training service providers that qualified under its scheme “Employability Skills for Non-Muslim Youth”.
Speaking at the ceremony as chief guest Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ijaz Alam Augustine outlined the problems that Non-Muslim youth face in Pakistan: poverty, lack of access to education or skills resulting in low paid jobs. He emphasised the need for various stakeholders from the public and private sector to come together and find viable solutions. He commended PSDF, and the training service providers in taking this initiative to improve employability for Non-Muslim Youth in Punjab.
Ali Akbar Bosan, Chief Operating Officer at PSDF said the scheme for “Employability Skills for Non-Muslim Youth” represented PSDF’s commitment to provide skills training to vulnerable and marginalised segments of the population. He reiterated that this scheme stemmed from the belief at PSDF that all communities be given equal education, training and economic opportunities.
This scheme is part of the UMEED (Upskilling Marginalised youth for Employability, Empowerment and Dignity) programme at PSDF, which is designed to help ease the transition of marginalised communities into mainstream skilled employment opportunities that have a high earning potential. The skills imparted to the youth are in market relevant and demand driven trades, ranging from AutoCAD, Mobile Development and Graphic Design, to Industrial Operators and Beautician.
PSDF has actively involved multiple employers, industrial units and formal training institutions to ensure demand-driven training and placement. The aim of this scheme is to ultimately train 5,000 Non-Muslim youths across 17 different districts in Punjab.
UVAS: The 60th syndicate meeting of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) was held here on Monday in which various agenda items were discussed and decisions were taken.
UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani presided over the meeting. He said the university was planning to introduce Ravi Campus Pattoki as an agri tourism place where people could see scientific mechanisms of different meat product processing and making, food and feed adulteration analysis.
MoU: Virtual University and University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, have inked an MoU to collaborate in the field of research and academics.
The MoU was signed by Rector, Virtual University, Naeem Tariq and Vice-Chancellor, UHS, Dr Javed Akram. Officials from both organisations were also present at the ceremony.
The MoU envisages strengthening of bonds between the two institutions which may see the developments of links leading to the establishment of partnership agreements, academic cooperation and joint ventures. Under the agreement, both institutions will jointly cooperate in the field of eLearning, online examination, blended learning, collaboration in research projects and faculty development. Naeem Tariq shared his views and said this MoU would be a historical step which would go a long way in improving standard of education and research in the country.