The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), operating under the Higher Education Commission (HEC), has launched a comprehensive three-week professional development training program for 27 newly inducted Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs (IPFP) fellows in Islamabad. The initiative aims to cultivate skilled and impactful educators who will serve in higher education institutions across Pakistan.
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE, addressed the fellows as chief guest, while Engineer M. Raza Chohan, Adviser on Human Resource Development at HEC, served as guest of honor. The event began with a welcome and program orientation by Sulaiman Ahmad, Director of NAHE, who emphasized the significance of the faculty development program in promoting academic advancement and supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goals highlighted include quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate action, and the fostering of strong institutions.
Director Ahmad outlined several innovative approaches introduced to enrich the participants’ training experience. Among the initiatives are “Read & Reflect,” which requires fellows to read an assigned book and submit a reflective report to nurture critical thinking, and “Plant a Promise,” where participants plant a sapling as a symbol of sustainability and growth. Additional activities include “Dastan Sarai,” promoting narrative and storytelling skills, “Community Connect,” which engages fellows in community service, and “Learning Together,” a peer-mentoring program designed to support collaborative learning and professional growth.
These new elements are designed to foster holistic and experiential learning, emphasizing the importance of engagement and teamwork for their success. Speaking to the cohort, Engr. M. Raza Chohan congratulated the scholars on being selected for the program and praised NAHE’s innovative methods for faculty training. He encouraged participants to be strategic about their career paths and to embrace the philosophies of lifelong learning, adaptability, and continuous self-improvement.
In her keynote address, Dr. Malik inspired the fellows to approach the program with discipline and enthusiasm, stressing that their active participation would prepare them to become effective and influential educators. She expressed confidence that the structured training would help transform them into committed teachers who contribute meaningfully to academic excellence in Pakistan.
NAHE’s training initiative underscores its commitment to developing the next generation of faculty and to raising the standards of higher education nationwide.
