President Dr. Arif Alvi has emphasised the need to expand the number of graduates, particularly in the fields of IT, cyber security, data analytics, and artificial intelligence by delivering education through distant, online, and hybrid forms of education.

Speaking at the convocation of the National University of Technology (NUTECH), the president said that many colleges in the United States now offer courses for less money and for shorter periods of time thanks to virtual and hybrid methods of learning. 

He noted that Pakistan currently has the required infrastructure in place to support online and hybrid learning. He stated that other universities may adopt similar virtual learning strategies to those used by the Virtual University of Pakistan in order to boost graduation rates without sacrificing academic standards.

The president said that Pakistan has a large pool of young people, which it can use as a resource by giving them access to technical and vocational training and by providing them with skills that are in demand. Giving its young people gainful work, he stated, would increase national productivity and efficiency.

The president said that as technology advanced, learning methods also changed, and a significant amount of material and expertise is now easily accessible on internet platforms. In the past, he said, academics relied on primitive technical instruments, learning by reasoning and observation, and disseminating information orally and through written documents.

The president expressed regret that Pakistan must deal with the problem of brain drain since its brilliant and skilled individuals are forced to leave Pakistan to find work overseas. According to him, Pakistan has made significant investments in the training and education of university graduates, but the nation must bear this loss owing to structural inefficiencies.

The president emphasised the necessity for female graduates to continue working and participating in the economy, noting that women's skills should not be wasted and should be fully utilised for the socioeconomic growth of the nation. 

He regretted that societal and familial pressures forced 40–50% of female medical graduates out of the job, resulting in a decline in overall national output.

The president gave the students the advice to maintain studying throughout their careers and to stay current with advancements in science and technology, especially information technology. He advised graduates to remain humble, use their knowledge for the good of society, keep their hearts and minds open to new ideas, and learn more information.

President Alvi also emphasised the need for maintaining current policies, fostering political stability and nationalism, reducing the propagation of false information on social media, and emphasizing the welfare and intellectual advancement of the populace.

Prior to awarding degrees to the graduating students, the president presented gold medals to top-performing students in several engineering specialties.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk