Delegation from University of Baltistan Co-creates Courses at LUMS
Share
In early December, a ten-member faculty delegation, led by Vice Chancellor, University of Baltistan (UoB), Dr. Naeem Khan, came to LUMS to help co-create courses and instructional strategies for co-teaching. This marked the first phase of the exchange programme between LUMS and UoB.
For a week, the delegation took part in a curated version of the Course Design Express (CDE) especially designed by the LUMS Learning Institute. They participated in two sessions — 'Course Design-Module 1’ and ‘Teaching Excellence and Student Engagement’. Faculty from both universities collaborated and developed courses that will be offered in the Summer Exchange Programme 2022 on different themes — e-commerce, life and biosciences, water informatics, green energy and entrepreneurship. One hundred and fifty students from LUMS, and 150 from UoB will be offered these courses in July 2022.
A panel discussion also took place between Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, LUMS; Dr. Naeem Khan, Vice Chancellor, UoB; Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin, Dean of Natural Sciences, UoB; Dr. Abubakr Muhammad, Associate Professor Electrical Engineering and Director, Centre for Water Informatics and Technology, LUMS and Hattaf Ayub, Student Liaison Officer, LUMS. The conversation centred around opportunities for collaboration between the two universities.
Dr. Ahmad, at the end of the week-long visit, hosted a dinner where he spoke about the wealth of knowledge the delegation shared with regard to experiential learning. He added that the collaboration was significant on a global scale. “What’s remarkable about this collaboration which began only in October 2021, is that it has produced something very tangible through the efforts of faculty at LUMS and at the University of Baltistan. This is not just a collaboration that will be noticed in our provinces, or in Pakistan; it is one that must gather global attention because the topics are of global importance.” He also shared that no MOU has been signed for this collaboration, and is completely based on trust.
Dr. Khan said this initiative creates hope for Gilgit Baltistan, and the students, faculty and researchers at LUMS. “We have found the right partners and identified the right courses. This collaboration will facilitate the learning for students in our province, and help transform the learning culture in the region.”
He also spoke about how the region is a gold mine of human civilization and will provide the best field laboratory and practical training to LUMS students.
Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Associate Professor, LUMS, described his experience of visiting Skardu and called it a living lab. “Every place we visited sparked a whole set of academic questions such as why is there a dessert where there’s River Indus flowing. And these questions became answers and led from one thing to another.”
Other faculty members from UoB shared their experience of being part of the partnership and the course design workshops. In the end, Dr. Ahmad thanked the delegation and handed out certificates to all the participants.
