‘Digital skills vital for educational innovation’

ISLAMABAD:

Digital transformation is an important aspect of the modern higher education landscape and has the potential to transform the way students learn, teachers teach, and researchers conduct research.

These remarks were made by the International Islamic University (IIU) President Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi at the graduation ceremony of the National Freelance Training Program (NFTP), held at the IIU on Thursday.

He said self-employment programmes for youth are vital for the development of any nation. He added that universities must encourage entrepreneurship and the prime focus must be on providing students with an enabling environment to acquire digital skills.

“By encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, we can help to create new businesses, jobs, and opportunities for all,” the IIU president opined.

The ceremony was also attended by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Senior Joint Secretary Ali Asghar, PITB Program Manager Muhammad Amjad, members of the PITB and IIUI vice presidents. Senior Joint Secretary Ali Asghar said that the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom is focusing on reducing unemployment.

He said the ministry is working to provide an enabling environment for the youth to be involved in emerging technologies.

Asghar maintained that the ministry is keen to provide training and expertise to youth in the fields of artificial intelligence, cyber security, E-knowledge, blockchain, and E-health.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2023.