Concluding Session of QEC's Four Days Workshop on Testing and Assessment in Semester System

   Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) of Khyber Medical University (KMU) organized four days Master Trainer Workshop on “Testing and Assessment and Implementation of Semester System”   with the collaboration of Learning Innovation Division HEC Islamabad.
            The objectives of the workshop were to train the faculty of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belonging to constituent and affiliated medical colleges of KMU and public sector universities in techniques and skills for assessment of outcomes planned for academic program achievements and commands on tools of assessment were explained by experts from Examination Board of Aga Khan University Karachi. Participants were trained on maintenance of course file, semester system, marking scheme and paper setting standards applied at international level. Resource persons for the workshop from Aga khan University Karachi Examination Board were Mr. Amin Rahmani, Mr. Kashif Hussain and Mr. Abid Sohail. Participants were from Public Sector Universities, affiliated Medical Colleges and constituent Institutes of KMU. Chief Organizer for the workshop was Ms. Asia Bukhari, Dy. Dir. QEC KMU.
            Mr. Qazi Muhammad Asad Minister for Higher Education KPK was the chief guest in the concluding session of the workshop held   at IBMS Hayatabad Peshawar. Madam Noor Amna Malik DG Learning Innovation Division HEC Islamabad, Ms. Farah Hamid Secretary Higher Education KPK and VC KMU Prof. Dr Muhammad Hafizullah were the guest speakers of the ceremony.
            While talking to the ceremony Qazi Muhammad Asad said “Universities need to move beyond their traditional roles of teaching, learning and research towards another core function - linking campuses to communities. They can play a key role in organizing programs in which students have the opportunity to be engaged in social activities. This is particularly important in countries like Pakistan, which have been damaged by severe societal breakdowns in the past”.  He said “Our Universities are a training ground for future leaders, a laboratory for cutting edge research, a place to develop solutions to our biggest challenges, an economic engine for the region, and taken together have a tremendous influence over  economic, and social policies in the country."
            Qazi Asad said that the role of Higher Education in the social and economic development of our nation is one that is taken very seriously by government and all possible efforts would be carried out to promote and strengthened this important sector.
            Ms. Noor Amna Malik Director General Learning Innovation, HEC, appreciated the valuable contribution of KMU, QEC and Agha Khan University Examination Board Resource Persons for conducting such a wonderful workshop for Health Professional of KPK. She ensured the participants for resolving all the issues pointed out for the smooth implementation of Semester Examination System in different disciplines of Health Education. She focused the Pivotal Facilitation and Support of Higher Education Commission will remain continue for the improvement of Education System and betterment of HEI’s of KPK.
            Ms. Farah Hamid Secretary Higher Education KPK said focusing quality education is our top most priority therefore in the history of the country we in KPK first time introduced a pre service training program for lecturers at public sector degree college level and government has allocated reasonable funds and infrastructure for this program.
            VC KMU Prof. Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah  while talking to the concluding session said that rapid increase of new information in the health education field compounded by the fact that some new facts are replacing the old ones has reduced the 'shelf life' of textbooks and lecture notes. The 'best used before' date of textbooks and lecture notes is getting shorter and shorter. This is a reality we all have to face. He said that at KMU we are in transitional period switching over from the old annual system to that of semester system. He elaborated that we introduced centralized marking system at KMU and it was working effectively all the stake holders including teachers, students and even parents appreciated this new system. He thanked Minister He KPK, Sec HE KPK and especially HEC Islamabad for supporting and encouraging KMU in its ongoing programs and hoped that they all will also continue their support in the future as well.  In the end certificates were distributed among the participants and VC KMU presented souvenirs to Mr. Qazi Asad, Miss Farah Hamid and Dr. Noor Amna Malik.