By Aitizaz Hassan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 5 (INP-WealthPK): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has initiated Digital Learning and Skills Enrichment Initiative (DLSEI) which intends to provide opportunity to students and faculty members of higher education institutions (HEIs) to secure certifications from world-renowned universities, which will enhance their learning capabilities and skills for professional development.

The HEC spokesperson Dr. Ayesha Ikram told WealthPK that a verified certificate from a world-renowned online platform can serve as proof for an employer that a candidate is abreast with cutting-edge tools and skills needed for a competitive career.

She said that innovation and technologies are the way forward for skilled workers in today’s economy.

“It’s perceived that up to 85 million jobs are to be required by 2025, and governments are facing a significant talent-gap to support digital transformation efforts,” she pointed out.

“Providing online courses to students through world’s best online education providers would help students to acquire in-demand skills and learning paths to new jobs,” Dr. Ayesha said.

The HEC has recommended that all the HEIs may encourage the faculty members to effectively utilize the courses available on Coursera – a US-based online course provider – to qualify at least one relevant course. Capacity building through massive open online course (MOOCS) is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to strengthen the required skills that students and faculty members need to stay abreast of latest developments.

Dr. Ayesha said that in terms of creating business opportunities among Pakistani youth, the HEC has also trained 144 aspiring entrepreneurs, which were shortlisted under the Innovator Seed Fund (ISF) program, and established three cohorts for virtual training, business clinic and site reviews. The ISF program aims to equip the aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their business ideas into successful ventures.

The spokesperson said the ISF will provide a package of support and seed funding to early-stage startups through the HEC-recognized business incubation centers (BICs) at universities.

“144 entrepreneurs/startup applicants of the ISF 2021-22 call have been provided with business proposal writing and pitching training. The ISF program will have three rounds, and in every round, 15 applicants will be awarded with seed funding grant of up to $35,000,” she said.

Dr. Ayesha said the priority sectors for ISF support include agriculture, food resources and agritech, banking, microfinance and fintech, creative digital media, arts and culture, education and edtech, e-commerce and smart retail, emerging technologies, healthcare and healthtech, housing, construction and manufacturing, sustainable development, climate and energy, transportation and logistics, and other sectors with the potential of growth and impact are also encouraged.

The ISF will provide a necessary supporting mechanism as well as seed funding to support early-stage startups. Seed fundings refer to an early investment round, usually raised to help a (pre-product) startup with its initial foundation and operations.

Credits: Independent News Pakistan—Wealthpk