For career counsellors, a chance to get some counselling

The two-day symposium will feature panel discussions and individual talks.

ISLAMABAD:

Career counsellors gathered at a symposium here on Monday to share, discuss and learn new ideas about how to help students with career advice.

The two-day Career Counsellor’s Symposium, which includes panel discussions and individual talks, has been organised by the British Council’s Education UK programme at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology.

“We understand that a positive and proactive future for Pakistan is by helping Pakistani students make more informed and better educational and career choices,” Nadia Kamran, Head of Education UK Pakistan, said. “This symposium is just a step in that direction.”

The collaboration between UK and Pakistan in the field of education has “two-way traffic”, where Pakistani and British universities are coming together for research and development, said Joan Barry, head of Education UK South Asia.“It’s very important to keep the dialogue going so we can learn from each other and share our expertise,” Barry said.

She said around 800 Pakistani career counsellors took part in the trainings organised by Education UK in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in 2012.

During the first panel discussion, participants talked about the challenges in promoting Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the country.

Faisal Mushtaq, a school management practitioner who has been working with public schools in Pakistan to improve digital literacy, said there’s a complete disconnect in the country between the availability of technical equipment and the knowledge to use that equipment.

“In Punjab, the chief minister has set up 4,000 computer laboratories, but there is no content or curriculum to teach the use of computer,” he said.

The first day’s event included sessions on topics ranging from choosing the right subjects to transnational educational programmes and academic linkages. Expert speakers including professional career counsellors, business entrepreneurs and academics conducted the sessions.

Avoiding brain drain

Education UK is also focusing on avoiding brain drain, finding incentives for Pakistani students studying abroad to come back.

“We want them to have better employability when they return after completing their studies so they can contribute to Pakistan’s development,” Barry said.

She said Education UK launched an initiative in 2011 to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the job market for Pakistani students studying abroad.

Kamran added that 17 Pakistani corporate firms travelled to the UK to organise jobs fairs for Pakistani students in 2011 under the programme.

The fairs were organised at four UK universities with 21 other universities also participating.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2012.