Ayesha Saba

Pakistan being a developing country with a rapidly growing population and a large youth demographic needs institutions imparting skills-based education to enable the youth to contribute to national economy, says a renowned academician and researcher. Professor Muhammad Mukhtar, the founding Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University (NSU) Islamabad, said while talking to WealthPK that the NSU is the first of its kind university in the country that promotes skills-based education, mainly focusing on applied, engineering, natural, and healthcare sciences.

He said Pakistan is considered to be the fifth youngest country in the world as around 63% population comprises the youth aged between 15 and 33 years. “Our biggest asset is our youth. Where other countries are worried about an aging population, Pakistan houses the young power needed to shape the world of tomorrow,” he pointed out.

“But for this, they need to be educated and provided the requisite skills. If we manage the education/skills provision well, the youth in Pakistan will have tremendous opportunities tomorrow,” he emphasised. Prof Mukhtar said the NSU is working to bridge the gap between industry and academia, and also the skills gap that currently exists in Pakistan.

“Many industries in the country struggle to find workers with the necessary skills, which can hamper economic growth. By providing vocational education, Pakistan can ensure that its workforce is better prepared to meet the needs of businesses and industries,” he said.

Prof Mukhtar said the main focus of the NSU is to conduct research and development on important technological and academic issues and provide support to the local industries and government organisations. “With right skills and knowledge, young people in Pakistan can start their own businesses and create new jobs, which can contribute to the country's economic growth because unemployment is one of the most pressing issues in our country right now,” he said.

The NSU vice-chancellor said Pakistan’s young population has the potential to improve the country's industrial productivity, competitiveness, and exports as well as greatly increase the inflows of overseas remittances if the trained and skilled persons participate in international skilled labour markets.

Currently, the seven departments of the NSU offer nine programmes/technologies of different levels, and 17 courses in various technical fields. Moreover, 180 students are currently enrolled in certificate courses including cyber security, digital marketing, mobile phone repairing, health and safety etc. The university also houses state-of-the-art laboratories including automotive technology lab, civil and electrical technology lab, computer lab, and industrial processing lab.

Prof Mukhtar said a comprehensive approach was needed to focus on skills-based universities in Pakistan. He explained that the approach may include needs assessment, curriculum development, faculty development, industry collaboration, and funding and resources. “By adopting these strategies, Pakistan can develop a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of the job market, and drive economic growth,” he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk