The National Skills University (NSU) in Islamabad is set to be recognized by UNESCO as a Center for Digitalization in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The National Skills University (NSU) in Islamabad is set to be recognized by UNESCO as a Center for Digitalization in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This significant milestone was announced following the participation of NSU’s Vice Chancellor and senior faculty members in the UNEVOC Coaction 2023 event, focused on Digital Transformation Theory and Methodologies.
The ceremony, which featured several distinguished institutions, saw the likes of Preah Kossomak Polytechnic Institute (PPI) from Cambodia, Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) from China, Temasek Polytechnic (TP) from Singapore, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) from Malaysia, and Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics (ZJTIE) from China.
Mr. Olivier Pieume, Chief of the Technical Cooperation Unit and Team Leader for the Network Secretariat at the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, graced the occasion as the chief guest. He emphasized the pivotal role of emerging technologies and highlighted UNESCO UNEVOC’s initiatives in advancing digitalization within TVET.
Under this UNESCO/UNEVOC Capacity-building initiative on Digital Transformation in TVET, the program aims to equip leaders, program directors, and key educators/trainers from the six participating UNEVOC Centers. This includes training in the development and transformation of TVET programs, curriculum enhancement, open educational resource creation, integration of educational technology (EdTech), and adopting digital pedagogies in TVET.
Furthermore, the program endeavors to establish and disseminate six notable practices in digital transformation from the six UNEVOC Centers, fostering a collaborative learning and sharing community.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University Islamabad, emphasized the necessity for extensive international collaboration in the face of rapid industrial revolutions, spanning from Industry 4.0 to 5.0.
He underscored that the evolving Society 5.0, a hyper-intelligent society, hinges on technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, metaverse, virtual reality, quantum computing, and more. Dr. Mukhtar urged for global adherence to this new digital paradigm, warning that deviation could have adverse consequences for nations not aligning with the evolving world order.