The Institute of Business and Finance (IBCC) launched an initiative to enhance the administrative capacity of educational institutions in Pakistan by integrating modern IT solutions into their management systems. The training program was well-received by attendees who appreciated the opportunity to improve their skills and better serve their institutions, ultimately contributing to Pakistan's progress through the integration of science, academia, and industry.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1264403-ibcc-staff-undergoes-it-trainingSerbia's government has extended school winter holidays by a week in an attempt to address growing student protests that have been ongoing for weeks. The protests, which began at universities and have since spread to high schools, have seen students camping out inside their faculty buildings. Despite the government's efforts to quell the demonstrations, occasional violence has erupted when pro-government thugs have attempted to disrupt the protests. The movement has received support from various sectors of society, including professors, media personalities, lawyers, and prominent individuals. President Vucic initially accused the students of protesting for financial gain, but later claimed that he had met their demands by publishing documentation related to a renovation project at the Novi Sad station.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10930306/thousands-stream-into-belgrade-square-to-protest-against-populist-serbian-president/Dr Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, stated that artificial intelligence will create new jobs while also destroying existing ones. He emphasized that the adoption of new technologies, such as those implemented by companies like Tesla and Adidas, is crucial in determining whether automation makes production processes less costly. Dr Panagariya cited an example of Adidas' experience with automated facilities in Germany and the US, which ultimately led them to move back to China due to cost considerations. He highlighted the importance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as a source of employment and emphasized that their growth is critical for achieving the 2047 Viksit Bharat goal. Dr Panagariya also noted that skill education can be beneficial, but learning on the job remains essential for MSMEs to remain productive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ai-not-threat-tech-raises-productivity-dr-arvind-panagariya-at-ndtv-business-conclave-7284544A study conducted by Cicero found that while Utah employers are generally pleased with the preparedness of recent graduates, they identified areas for improvement. The main issue is a lack of "durable skills" such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and resilience in new hires. Employers believe that higher education institutions have a responsibility to teach these skills, but also acknowledge that they share equal responsibility in developing them in their employees. A respondent from the healthcare industry noted that critical thinking and problem-solving are developed through experience and training.
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2024/12/19/utah-higher-education-survey-industry-job-alignment-internships-durable-skills/UNICEF's PROSPECTS programme focuses on education, skills training, and social innovation in Jordan, aiming to empower vulnerable children and youth with foundational, vocational, and entrepreneurship skills. The programme has engaged over 110,000 young people, including 63% females, in opportunities such as financial literacy, life skills, digital skills, and social innovation courses. Additionally, the programme provides monthly cash assistance to 1,600 vulnerable children, psycho-social support to around 130,000 individuals, and protection services including disability-inclusive and gender-sensitive support. The second phase of PROSPECTS focuses on education, employment, protection, and infrastructure, with a goal of improving access, retention, and quality of education for vulnerable and refugee children.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/global-partnership-programme-prospects-resumed-phase-twoRight-wing education scholar Max Eden suggests that the federal government could use its control over one major school district's curriculum as a model for the nation. This idea is relevant in light of recent efforts by far-right groups, such as Moms for Liberty, to censor information in schools and remove books with LGBTQ or racial topics from libraries. Additionally, some Trump supporters are calling for the abolition of the Department of Education, which enforces civil rights in public schools and provides access to college financing. This comes as a conservative commentator, Hegseth, has expressed interest in altering the military school program to incorporate Christian nationalist principles, potentially influencing local school districts to adopt similar instruction.
https://www.rawstory.com/hegseth-military-schools/The Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT) held its 4th Graduation Ceremony in Karachi, awarding diplomas to over 500 students who completed their Associate Engineer programs. The event was attended by several dignitaries including Ruslan M Prkhorov, Vice Consul Director of the Russian Centre for Science & Culture, and Junaid Buland, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister and Chairman of STEVTA. In his address, Buland emphasized the importance of education as a key weapon in the "war of competition" and urged students not to compromise on their principles. He also highlighted that technology plays a dominant role in the development and growth of the country. Other speakers including Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Alkaram Towel Industries Kashif Chawla, Hakim Abdul Hanan, and Member of the AIT Governing Body Aslam Shah Khan emphasized the importance of education, skills, and honesty in achieving success and contributing to the country's economic prosperity.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40337750/500-students-awarded-diplomas-at-ait-ceremonyThe Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) has partnered with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Swisscontact to launch the "Enabling Learning and Employment through Vocational Advancement and Technical Education" (ELEVATE) project. The initiative aims to enhance vocational education and training in the hospitality sector, particularly among Jordanian youth. RACA will work closely with industry partners to develop flexible curricula, train trainers, and establish dual training models that combine theoretical learning with practical application. The partnership is expected to improve skills and boost job opportunities in the hospitality and food sectors, while adapting curricula to meet market needs.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/raca-sdc-swisscontact-sign-mou-support-promote-vocational-education-hospitalityThe Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) initiative, launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has seen a significant increase in female participation in vocational training. According to data, female participation rose from 12% in 2017-18 to 20% in 2022-23 under the initiative led by Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE. The STRIVE initiative provided financial support to enhance the capacity of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country, achieving a utilisation rate of over 92% of allocated funds.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/technology/female-participation-in-govts-vocational-training-initiative-sees-20-pc-rise-2/