Comment by Riaz Haq on June 15, 2023 at 1:32pm

Lahore’s Tech Renaissance: From Astrolabes To AI
Amir Husain

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amirhusain/2023/03/29/lahores-tech-ren...

Another intriguing venture spun off from LUMS is a startup that develops affordable three-wheel electric vehicles (EVs). As the world increasingly turns to sustainable transport solutions, this company aims to cater to the growing demand for cost-effective EVs in Pakistan and beyond.

The third group is running an agri-tech research initiative that combines AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) to control large-scale agricultural processes autonomously. The project seeks to optimize variables such as fertilizer, water, and pesticide, and monitor plant health, thereby increasing productivity in the farming sector.

Technologies such as these can lift the local economy, increase global collaboration, and scale exports.

Aitchison College

Our next stop was my old alma mater, Aitchison College, a prestigious K-12 school founded in 1885. Boasting one of the world's most beautiful campuses on a sprawling 200 acres of land, the school has evolved from an elite institution to offering full-ride scholarships for applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Michael Thomson, the Principal of Aitchison College, and his lovely wife, Elizabeth, gave us a tour of the school's museum, the impressive chemistry labs, and the nearly complete Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Biotech building. This new facility will be a massive asset for Aitchison and the student community, bringing research and entrepreneurship to the high school level.

One of the most inspiring stories we heard was that of a young graduate from the tribal belt along the Afghan border in North Waziristan. Upon meeting this impressive young gentleman, we learned that after receiving a full scholarship at Aitchison, he is now heading to Dartmouth for higher studies – a transformative opportunity for him, his family, and his village.

Entrepreneurs in Lahore

During our trip, we interacted with numerous entrepreneurs who have contributed significantly to Lahore's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Among them was the legendary Syed Babar Ali, founder of LUMS and Chairman of Packages Ltd. Babar Ali is one of the most admired Pakistanis globally. In his long list of laurels is his dedication to environmental conservation and a term as the President of the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), which he took over from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1996. His contributions to industry and education are immeasurable. At the young age of 97, he continues to work from his office daily, maintaining a hectic and full schedule. His unwavering dedication and passion are truly inspiring.

We also met Aezaz Hussain, the founder of Systems Ltd., Pakistan's oldest software company. Mr. Hussain has led his company with great poise for over forty years. He has now expanded his enterprise globally through a network of affiliated companies. The Systems Ltd. network encompasses businesses in the UAE, Australia, Saudi Arabia, India, Europe, and the US. With around 10,000 employees, Systems is experiencing rapid growth and solidifying Pakistan's position in the global software industry.

Nabeel Ahmed, the founder of Core9, a new AI services company focused on industrial applications and a SparkCognition partner, took us on a tour of the Sundar Industrial Estate. Here, we learned about the nearly 650 manufacturing companies based in the park, spanning industries such as pharma, textiles, TVs, and chemicals. Meeting one of the newest SparkCognition clients, a multinational chemical manufacturer also located within the Sundar Industrial Estate, was exciting and inspiring.

Comment by Riaz Haq on June 15, 2023 at 1:32pm

Lahore’s Tech Renaissance: From Astrolabes To AI
Amir Husain

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amirhusain/2023/03/29/lahores-tech-ren...



The Lahore-based team at FiveRivers Technologies has been a tremendous partner for SparkCognition. But FiveRivers also impressed us by showcasing a suite of their domestically built software products gaining traction in international markets. Their SmartWindows application is one such example. The application enhances productivity for power users by supercharging window and state management on PCs. It’s quickly gaining users worldwide.

Later that night, at a wonderful ecosystem dinner organized by Usman Malik of power company, PITCO and Mahmud Hiraj of private equity firm, Baltoro Capital, we met many other members of the innovation ecosystem in Lahore. Usman heads the power plant design arm of PITCO, which traces its origins back to 1938. Mahmud is a founding partner at Baltoro Capital, a leading private equity firm in Pakistan. Mahmud moved back to Lahore after spending 15 years in the finance industry in North America. His fund, Baltoro, is Pakistan-focused and capitalizes on the country’s growing consumer market and rising export competitiveness.

Export is a key area of focus for many Pakistani entrepreneurs, particularly those building high-tech products. One of the guests at the ecosystem dinner was Salem Rehman of EMCO Industries. EMCO is Pakistan's premier manufacturer of high-voltage products for the electric grid. His company has a long history of catering to the domestic and regional markets but has now also started exporting to the United States.

Wrapping up

Our trip to Lahore allowed us to witness firsthand the energy and drive of Lahore’s entrepreneurs. The city is full of innovative startups, research projects, and academies focused on scientific development. This varied and fast-growing ecosystem is a testament to Lahore's immense potential and creativity.

As we continue our work in Austin, build new relationships in Munich, and explore partnerships in Lahore, we hope to contribute to the growth of entrepreneurial communities in all these innovation centers. By fostering connections between these vibrant cities, we can nurture AI and broader S&T collaborations that have the potential to change the world. The unyielding passion of the people we met makes us optimistic about the future of Lahore, of Pakistan, and indeed, of the world.

Comment by Riaz Haq on June 23, 2023 at 6:51pm

Two Titan submersible passengers were prominent science philanthropists in Pakistan

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02100-y

Two of the passengers who died when the Titansubmersible imploded on its way to explore the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic belonged to a family that are prominent philanthropic funders of science in Pakistan.

Shahzada Dawood, and his son, Suleman Dawood, were part of the Dawood Foundation, which set up a university, girls’ school and museum, all with major focuses on science.

“The tragic loss of father and son is, first and foremost, a human tragedy and a tragedy for the family,” says environmental scientist Adil Najam, who also studies philanthropic giving in Pakistan. “We have also lost someone with a real, personal and abiding interest in science. It is a tremendous loss of a champion for science.”

“This is a huge tragedy for Pakistan,” adds Atta-ur-Rahman, a chemist at the University of Karachi and a former minister for science. “The [Dawood] family has made enormous contributions to education and science during the last five or six decades.”

The Dawood family’s foundation established the Dawood University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi; the Karachi School of Business and Leadership; the MagnifiScience Centre, Pakistan's first contemporary science museum also in Karachi. Dawood public school provides high quality science education for girls, Najam says.

Members of the Dawood family posted a statement to the foundation website about the deaths of Shahzada and Suleman. “We are truly grateful to all those involved in the rescue operations. The immense love and support we receive continues to help us endure this unimagineable loss.” The statement also said: “At this time, we are unable to receive calls and request that support, condolences and prayers be messaged instead.”

Both Rahman and physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy of the Black Hole Institute, a science and cultural centre in Islamabad, say that the Dawood Foundation is a rare example of much-needed science-philanthropy. Many young people are trying to leave Pakistan because of an economic crisis and a lack of opportunities. Around 800,000 people left in 2022 to seek work abroad. Between 400 and 750 people from Pakistan, as well as Egypt and Syria died last week when a boat capsized off the Mediterranean Sea on its way from Libya to Europe, according to media reports.

The Dawood family foundation has tried to address these problems by creating opportunities for science education. Rahman adds that there is much more that needs to be done. “We need to rethink our national policies, so that we can use this huge pool of talent for our own socio-economic development,” he says.

Comment by Riaz Haq on July 22, 2023 at 6:46pm

24 Pakistani students from Karachi participate in US space camp

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2426811/24-pakistani-students-from-kar...

Thanks to a US government-funded grant, 24 Pakistani students, both male and female, from three schools in Karachi are currently taking part in the US Space and Rocket Center's prestigious Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

This initiative aims to promote and expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Karachi schools. The US Consulate General in Karachi collaborated with The Dawood Foundation's (TDF) MagnifiScience Centre, the implementing partner, to facilitate this programme in 50 schools across the city.

The US grant encompassed three key components: STEM training for 100 Pakistani teachers, educational field trips for over 1,000 students to the MagnifiScience Centre, and a culminating science project competition.


The primary objective of this grant was to stimulate an increase in STEM education and encourage schools in Karachi to allocate more resources toward training their staff, thereby enhancing learning outcomes. The aim is to motivate students to pursue careers in science-related fields, meeting the growing demand for STEM graduates in industry, academia, and research.

The United States has consistently shown commitment to supporting STEM education in Pakistan through various educational programmes. This includes previous initiatives such as sending cohorts of Pakistani students to Space Camp in 2011 and 2015. The United States emphasises inclusive STEM education, green technologies, and entrepreneurship for young individuals worldwide, as a means to foster sustainable economic growth within their own countries.



The primary objective of this grant was to stimulate an increase in STEM education and encourage schools in Karachi to allocate more resources toward training their staff, thereby enhancing learning outcomes. The aim is to motivate students to pursue careers in science-related fields, meeting the growing demand for STEM graduates in industry, academia, and research.

The United States has consistently shown commitment to supporting STEM education in Pakistan through various educational programmes. This includes previous initiatives such as sending cohorts of Pakistani students to Space Camp in 2011 and 2015. The United States emphasises inclusive STEM education, green technologies, and entrepreneurship for young individuals worldwide, as a means to foster sustainable economic growth within their own countries.



The inter-school competition revolved around the theme of eco-sustainability and entrepreneurship. Each competing team was provided with science kits as a resource. A panel of judges selected eight students and one teacher from three schools based on their outstanding projects. These three winning teams, consisting of 24 students and their three teachers, recently traveled to Huntsville, Alabama to participate in Space Camp. The winning science projects demonstrated the remarkable results achieved through collaborative efforts, brainstorming, and cooperation among team members.

The winning projects and teams are as follows:

KMA Girls & Boys Primary School's team: "Chicken Feathers - Go Green before the Green Goes." The project involved using chicken feathers to create paper.
Evergreen Elementary School's team: "Anti-Sleep Glasses." Their project focused on developing glasses with a built-in alarm to reduce vehicle accidents caused by driver fatigue.
KMA Boys Secondary School's team: "Plastic Road." This project explored the use of waste plastic to create roads with a lifespan of 50+ years.

Comment by Riaz Haq on July 22, 2023 at 6:54pm

Report reveals widening European interest and shift towards STEM

https://thepienews.com/news/interest-european-studies-shift-stem/

https://studyportals.typeform.com/to/PkDRfZl8/

Students from Pakistan and Bangladesh are driving interest in education across continental Europe – a region that is maintaining a “strong appeal” for international students – but government policy, among other factors, may be impacting students’ choices, according to new research.

“Although India generates the largest share of relative demand [at bachelor’s level], this fluctuates drastically and has gradually declined overall,” the report noted. “Conversely, you can see that Bangladesh and Pakistan have increased their share of the interest.”

The research tracks a similar trend in master’s, with India showing a “general decline in interest year-on-year”, with Bangladesh and Pakistan, alongside students in Turkey and Iran, showing “strong demand to study master’s programs”.


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Additionally, program preference is shifting towards artificial intelligence, data science & big data, business intelligence & analytics, entrepreneurship and engineering management.

Analysing data collected in the year up to May 2023, the Studyportals Destination Europe report delves into trends in master’s and bachelor’s programs, as well as taking a closer look at the business and management discipline – which the paper noted as most popular for international students in general.

One in five students looking to study in Europe are interested in the discipline, the company noted.

While Germany “holds significant global market share of student interest”, the analysis found a “drop in relative demand” for its programs, while Norway had seen the “largest decline” in relative demand. The drop is likely influenced by the introduction of tuition fees, the paper said.

At the other end of the spectrum, Italy is continuing to grow in its popularity among international students, at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

Comment by Riaz Haq on July 28, 2023 at 7:10pm

NA passes 26 bills to set up new universities, institutes amid criticism about quality education


23 new universities in Pakistan’s public and private sector voted on by National Assembly

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1094931-na-passes-26-bills-to-set-...

The Metropolitan International Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2023, The Askari Institute of Higher Education Bill 2023, The Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill, 2021, Federal Ziauddin University Bill, 2023”, The Indus University of Science and Technology Bill, 2022, The Institute of Management and Technology Bill, 2023, The Pak China, Gwadar University, Lahore Bill, 2023, The Protection of Family Life and Wedlock Bill, 2023, The University of Shaheed Benzair Bhutto Bill, 2023, The Institute of Health and Professional Studies Bill, 2023, The Sheikhupura Institute of Advance Sciences Bill, 2023, The Cosmic Institute of Science and Technologies Islamabad Bill, 2023, The Bulleh Shah International University Bill, 2023, The Ravi Institute Bill, 2023, The International Islamic Institute for Peace Bill, 2023, The Shah Bano Institute Jaranwala Bill, 2023, The International Memon University Bill, 2023, The Ume Abeeha Institute of Health Sciences Bill, 2023, The Mufti-e-Azam Islamic University Bill, 2023, The Kalam Bibi International Women Institute Bannu (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Islamabad International University, 2023, The Pakistan Points of Entry (Public Health) Bill, 2023, The Islamabad Institute of Modern Sciences Bill, 2023, The Al-Biruni International University Bill, 2023, The National University of Health Emerging Sciences and Technologies, Islamabad Bill, 2023, The National Institute of Technology Bill, 2023, The Pakistan Institute of Management, Sciences and Technology Bill, 2023 and The Horizon University Bill, 2023.

Comment by Riaz Haq on August 10, 2023 at 10:56am

Tertiary Education in Pakistan:

The survey further indicates there were approximately 500,000 students enrolled in technical & vocational education, approximately 760,000 in degree-awarding colleges, and 1.96 million students in universities in 2020-21.Nov 10, 2022

https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/pakistan-education#....

Comment by Riaz Haq on August 15, 2023 at 6:42pm

Pakistan has shown a 79 per cent year-on-year growth in enrolment, becoming the fourth country globally (out of 100) with the highest STEM enrolments. Enrolment count from Pakistan stands at 642,562 – behind Nigeria (675,371), the US (4,639,771) and India (6,000,967).

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1095301-pakistan-among-top-4-count...


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Pakistan ranks 92 out of 100 countries in the Global Skills Report 2023 published earlier this month by Coursera — a US-based massive open online course provider — in terms of skills proficiency. This is a significant decline for the country which ranked 64th in skills proficiency in 2022.


For business skills, Pakistan has a score of 22 per cent (a sharp decline from its previous score of 50 per cent). For technology skills, Pakistan has obtained a score of 10 per cent, a dip from the previous 51 per cent. For data science skills, the country’s score is 8.0 per cent. All scores are ranked against the average regional scores of 41 per cent (business), 49 per cent (technology), and 52 per cent (data science).

In his comment to The News, Co-founder of Data Darbar Mutaher Khan expresses that “Coursera’s overall ranking and the performance on three tracks [business, technology, and data science] should be taken with a pinch of salt in my view. Because the difference in results compared to previous editions is too big, which raises questions about the sampling.”

Focusing on Pakistan’s significant drop, he says, “now it is difficult to say what the reasons are, but one guess could be that Pakistanis signed up for Coursera courses in droves this year, many of whom possibly were just testing it out and did not necessarily pay too much attention to the assessments.”

He believes it is “hard to argue that in one year, Pakistani human capital’s skills slipped by 28 points. And it is not just about relative rank: the deterioration is visible in absolute percentages for each track. This is not to say Pakistani talent is great or should be among the top countries in terms of skills.”

Even though Pakistan’s global ranking is dismal, it has shown a 79 per cent year-on-year growth in enrolment, becoming the fourth country globally (out of 100) with the highest STEM enrolments. Enrolment count from Pakistan stands at 642,562 – behind Nigeria (675,371), the US (4,639,771) and India (6,000,967).

Speaking to The News, Deputy Chief of USAID Higher Education System Strengthening Activity Dr Ayesha Razzaque, discusses the reasons behind the shift towards distant learning among Pakistanis, “skills are the new currency in the job market. [In Pakistan], four-year curricula are neither updated frequently enough nor corresponding degrees/transcripts do a good job of communicating what the graduate is able to do.”

She adds that across the world, “there is a shift towards acquiring micro-credentials instead on top of an undergraduate degree. So, instead of enrolling in a long-term programme, one could enroll in a shorter certificate program and get only the necessary skills. Our universities will eventually need to catch up too.”

When asked what the government and the private sector can do to improve the situation, Mutaher says: “there are a couple of things the government at least seems to be doing. For example, the HEC has a partnership programme with Coursera, which is a great step. Similarly, it recently earmarked Rs2 billion in the budget for specialized IT trainings.”

Comment by Riaz Haq on August 16, 2023 at 4:58pm

HEC STARTS REGISTRATION FOR DLSEI: COURSERA FREE TRAINING



https://www.eduvision.edu.pk/edu_news/hec-starts-registration-for-d...


As part of its ongoing commitment to equip Pakistani youth with the high-demand skills needed for jobs of the future, HEC has embarked upon the third phase of its partnership with Coursera through the Digital Learning and Skills Enrichment Initiative (DLSEI). The registration process for Coursera registration has started. The deadline for Registration is extended till August 05, 2023.

DLSEI was launched in 2018 in partnership with Coursera and the previous two phases of the program witnessed a cumulative 0.25 million hours of online skilling across 12,000 learners. Some of the popular industry courses are in the areas of Project Management, Data Analytics, Programming, and Social Media Marketing, and soft skills like negotiation, communication, public speaking, and presentation.

Comment by Riaz Haq on August 16, 2023 at 4:59pm

Announcing the Coursera Global Skills Report 2023
June 14, 2023


https://blog.coursera.org/announcing-the-coursera-global-skills-rep...


Rising demand for STEM education and industry micro-credentials for digital jobs. STEM course demand has increased to 23.6 million annual enrollments globally as of March 31, 2023. An increase of 1.8 million from the previous year, with women accounting for 35% of enrollments. Entry-level Professional Certificate enrollments grew to 3.4 million globally, up 61% year-over-year, with STEM certificates amassing 2.3 million enrollments, up 47% year-over-year. Low-income countries and regions have the greatest enrollment growth in entry-level Professional Certificates, including the Philippines (253% increase), Brazil (231%), Pakistan (228%), Indonesia (176%), and Sub-Saharan Africa (80%).

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By Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO

Digital transformation, automation, and globalization are reshaping the labor market and creating an unprecedented need for reskilling and upskilling worldwide. The rise of generative AI further accelerates new workforce imperatives as businesses embrace the transformative power of this technology.

Every year, we do a deep dive into various countries to unlock and understand the skills trends that are shaping the global workforce. Today, I’m pleased to introduce our fifth annual Global Skills Report, which draws on data from millions of learners on Coursera to help leaders in business, government, and higher education understand the rapidly changing skills landscape and the availability of skilled talent worldwide.

Emerging talent and technology hubs are redefining the idea of a globalized workforce, with in-demand skills becoming more distributed. The global rise in enrollments for industry micro-credentials corresponds with the simultaneous rise of remote work, bringing with it unprecedented career opportunities for people around the globe.

Key global findings:

Rising demand for STEM education and industry micro-credentials for digital jobs. STEM course demand has increased to 23.6 million annual enrollments globally as of March 31, 2023. An increase of 1.8 million from the previous year, with women accounting for 35% of enrollments. Entry-level Professional Certificate enrollments grew to 3.4 million globally, up 61% year-over-year, with STEM certificates amassing 2.3 million enrollments, up 47% year-over-year. Low-income countries and regions have the greatest enrollment growth in entry-level Professional Certificates, including the Philippines (253% increase), Brazil (231%), Pakistan (228%), Indonesia (176%), and Sub-Saharan Africa (80%).
Learners in lower and middle-income countries prioritize digital skills more than high-income countries. Within these countries, learners are more likely to invest in acquiring skills such as software architecture, mobile development, and programming principles, enabling them to participate in local and remote talent opportunities. With learners in India and Nigeria second and third only to the U.S. in Professional Certificate enrollments, with 654,000 and 142,000 respectively.
AI skills are trending globally across education levels. Learners with postgraduate degrees are more likely to invest in advanced AI skills over-indexing learners with less formal education in subjects such as artificial neural networks (1.24x), applied machine learning(1.18x), and computer vision(1.22x). While learners with less education are focused on foundational digital skills needed to enable and implement AI technologies in the workplace such as network architecture and programming languages. Learners in Europe are more likely to invest in AI skills than other regions. Top skills include artificial neural networks, applied machine learning and deep learning, with learners in Germany more likely than learners in any other country to enroll in AI related courses.

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