A four-days course on the Development of E-learning Curriculum and Relevant E-materials organized by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centrefor Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) concluded on 22nd April afternoon.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor National Skills University Islamabad, participated in this course along with 90 delegates from 26 Muslim countries. This course is specifically designed to provide advisory support for the OIC members states academic leaders in technical and vocational education and training (OIC-VET).
Several case studies from the Malaysian school system and higher education institutes were presented by the scholars and technical experts representing the Ministry of Education of Malaysia.
This course covered various methodologies applied during the COVID-19 and pre-COVID era for the E-Learning curricular development and its applications.
Several topics discussed were the strategies and innovative approaches to promote and implement E-learning and the challenges involved in vocational centers. Besides demonstrations of several digital tools utilized in E-learning, students’ perspective and their inclination and acceptance for new teaching-learning methods were also discussed.
Professor Mukhtar appreciated SESRIC’s efforts in organizing this course and coined it as an exemplary program for other nations to follow. This will provide experience sharing of various digital tools used for providing education to youth during emergent times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also applauded the Malaysian Government’s efforts in having 67% accessibility levels through ICT and provision of internet facilities to each student, a unique model to follow for the rest of the world. Importantly the E-portfolio that describes learner engagement and accomplishment during the E-learning process implemented in the specific educational institute of Malaysia is worth following model for Pakistan and the rest of the world.
TVET institutions worldwide, including Pakistan, must keep up with the digital transformations by training their faculty, staff, and trainers. Techno-savvy institutions can only produce youth with ample knowledge and skills, thus meeting the challenging demands of skilled labor and job markets, says Prof. Mukhtar.