National and International Linkages

• LCWU Signed MOU under US-Pakistan Partnership Grants Program
  
  
• Three Days Workshop on “Gender Analysis” 23rd to 25th September 2019
  
  
• MOU signing Ceremony between LCWU and FCCU
  
  
• Gender and Development Studies Department Developed Linkages with Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand 
  

  Gender and Development Studies Department, LCWU Developed Linkages & Collaboration under the HEC funded project “Strengthening of Faculties of LCWU” with Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. The proposed linkage took place under the HEC funded project “Strengthening of Faculties of LCWU” to LOI signed between Lahore College for Women University with Asian Institute of Technology, for developing linkages & research collaboration of GDS Department, LCWU.
  
  Dr. Subha Malik, HOD Gender and Development Studies attended the LOI signing ceremony that was held at AIT, Thailand in the last week of November, 2018. (First outgoing visit from 20th Nov, 2018 to 24th Nov, 2018)
  
  For further perusal of linkage, Ms. Nayab Javed Lecturer Department of Gender and Development Studies, LCWU visited for two courses at  School of Environment, Resource and Development (SERD) AIT, Thailand.
  
  To proceed further with linkages program, Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe HOD Development & Sustainability at Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand will visit Department of Gender and Development Studies, LCWU

   

• GW-LCWU Partnership- Building Connections, Building Capacity Three Year Project funded by the State Department

  Department of Gender and Development Studies, Lahore College for Women University has entered into a three year partnership with George Washington University USA’s Global Gender Program. This project is based on collaborative and cost-efficient plan to build and sustain an academic partnership between the Global Gender Program (GGP) of the George Washington University (GW) and the Gender and Development Studies Program at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) to enhance the academic, research, and knowledge exchange environment for faculty and students at LCWU and to support the mission of GW and its Global Gender Program.
  
  This partnership  has started  on January 1, 2014, and will end on December 31, 2016. The partnership provided a series of activities, including curriculum development, student/ faculty exchanges, professional and leadership development, and international conferences, designed to maximize short-term and long-term impact at both universities. At The George Washington University, the project is led by Professor Barbara Miller, a senior academic with extensive experience in India and on gender issues; and Professor Shaista E. Khilji, a cross-cultural expert on leadership and adult learning (particularly in South Asia) with a longstanding educational/ research/ work experience and continuing relationships with institutions in Pakistan. At Lahore College Women’s University, the project’s leader is Dr. Sarah Shahed, Head of Department, Gender and Development Studies, and Director, Women Institute of Leadership and Learning.
  
  

• Goals of the Partnership

  Establish and sustain a new and enduring academic exchange relationship between LCWU's Department of Gender and Development and GW's Global Gender Program to enhance educational quality, research, and public engagement/service learning at both universities.
  Contribute to positive change in cross-cultural attitudes through cultural exposure and understanding.

• Faculty Exchange Program

  Prof. Dr. Shaista Khilji from George Washington University visited Lahore College for Women University twice, in  2014  and 2016 .She  is Professor of Human and Organizational Learning & International Affairs at the George Washington University, During her stay in Pakistan,  she organized several trainings, workshop and courses on  qualitative research, scholarly writing, curriculum development and  leadership. She also reviewed the MS program curriculum with the faculty of GDS and facilitated in the designing the curriculum of the PhD program.

  Mr. David D. Gow, Baker Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, DC also visited the Lahore College for Women University twice in 2014 & 2015. Dr. Gow is a sociocultural anthropologist who studies processes of local development, the evolution of local politics, and the relationships among participation, democracy, and citizenship. He taught courses on “Development, Gender, and Representation: An Anthropological Perspective”.

  Dr. Jane Henrici, from George Washington University visited the Department of Gender & Development Studies, Lahore College for Women University, in 2016. Dr. Henrici is a Professorial Lecturer at Elliott School of International Affairs. During her stay, she delivered lectures on global gender issues and conducted many workshops based on qualitative research techniques. She also spoke as a guest speaker at the International Symposium on Gender and Disasters on March 8th and attended the panel discussion as panelist organized by British High Commission in collaboration with Lahore College for Women University on March 7th, 2016. 

  In  2015 and 2016 five faculty members of Gender & Development Studies Department visited George Washington University, USA. During their stay,, they worked actively in curriculum development from defining learning objectives to designing assignments and term projects, etc. Faculty members had interactive sessions with doctoral and masters level students of GWU with the agenda of sharing experiences and to contribute in their dissertations about issues in Pakistan. They also visited Masters and PhD classes in order to enhance knowledge and skills regarding advanced teaching methods, strategies and to enhance Scholar’s teaching effectiveness. Additionally, faculty members delivered two seminar presentations on “Women’s Leadership in Pakistan- beyond Stereotypes and Myths” and Successes and Challenges of Pakistani Women. The Story of an Evolving Society  which were attended by faculty and students of GWU. They also attended meetings to discuss the mechanism of online classes.

  Additionally, eight faculty members of Gender and Development studies have successfully completed the online course on women and global politics offered by the  Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University during the summer semester in  May to  June  2015. This course was led by the Prof .Dr. Michele A. Clark. The course examined how political, economic, social, cultural and religious frameworks affected the well being of women as well as contributed to a systemic lack of access to resources.

• Students Exchange Program
  
  

  Several students of  the MS program  of  Gender and Development Studies  visited the George Washington University, USA for summer semester in 2014, 2015 and 2016.During their six weeks stay in GWU, the students attended three research-based courses. Beside this, students attended several meetings with the faculty and doctoral students  at GWU.  Students at GWU also attended and presented papers at the conferences on Women’s Empowerment and Equality Challenges, Progress, and Opportunities, Empowering Women through Political Participation &Empowering Politics through Women’s Participation and What Works for Women’s Equality: Insights from Research and Practice organized by the global gender program, US.

• Video Conferences
  
  

  So far, four video conferences have been conducted between the  Department of Gender and Development Studies, Lahore College for Women University and Global Gender Program ,George Washington University. In these conferences, the students and faculty  from both sides exchanged ideas and knowledge about the challenges and prospects for change in women’s empowerment especially as related to gender-based issues.

• Visit of US Consulate General's Public Affairs 
  
  

  US Consulate General's Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Rachel Chan, Advisor Higher Education & Youth Affairs, US Department of State, Mr. Jamal Ghazanfar and Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General, Ms. Farakh N. Khan  visited the Lahore College for Women University on September 9, 2016. They met with the Worthy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi and senior leadership of LCWU. In the meeting, future possibilities of academic collaboration between  universities of USA and LCWU were discussed. Additionally, students and faculty of Gender and Development Studies who under the partnership program of LCWU and GWU visited the USA, shared their experiences and extended their gratitude to the  US State Department for providing them opportunities of learning and capacity building in various academic areas.  

   

• Three Days International Conference on Global Gender Perspective November

  The Department of Gender & Development Studies, Lahore College for Women University in collaboration with the Global Gender Program of The George Washington University, USA, organized a three day International Conference on Global Gender Perspective from November 14 to 16, 2016.
  
  This conference brought together leading academics social scientists and researchers to exchange and share their experiences and research finding on important aspects of Gender and Development Studies. More than 100 national and international presenters presented their papers in the conference. Participants from USA, UK, Sweden, Germany, Norway, and Nepal also presented papers in conference. Dr. Jane Henrici, Lecturer Global Gender Program, George Washington University,  Dr. Kelly Pemberton, Associate Professor of Religion and Women’s Studies, George Washington University; Dr. Lionel Howard , Assistant Professor,  Educational Research, George Washington University and Dr. Faiza Ali ,Senior Lecturer, Liverpool Business School , John Moores University also presented their papers. Lesli Davis, Program Officer, George Washington University shared the message of  Dr. Barbara Miller, Professor of Anthropology & International Affairs, George Washington University at the panel discussion. Michael Clark, Adjunct Professor George Washington University also participated in the panel discussion at the conference. Ms. Savitra Shreshta from Nepal, Ms. Zille Zahra Naqvi, Dr.Lena Martinsson & Dr. Erika Alm from Sweden presented their recorded papers.
  
  Students and faculty from Punjab University, COMSATS Islamabad, University of Peshwar, International Islamic University, University of Sargodha, Beaconhouse National University (BNU), NUST, GCU Lahore, NIP Quaid-i-Azam university, Foundation university Islamabad, FC College,  Lahore College for Women University and LUMS participated in the conference. Additionally, professionals from FATA Research Center and advocate of Lahore High Court also presented in the conference.
  Chief Guest Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Provincial Minister for Higher Education and Population Welfare, highlighted various actions taken by the Government of Pakistan for promotion of gender equality. She appreciated the efforts of GWU and LCWU for holding a well-organized and successful conference. She added that such opportunities help in bringing together leading academic social scientists, researchers and research scholars for exchanging experiences and research results on important aspects of Gender and Development Studies
  
  The Vice Chancellor LCWU, Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi, in her closing speech admired and praised the team of Women Institute of Leadership and Learning for incorporating what was envisioned for the conference. It has been the first event of its nature and magnitude in Pakistan in the field of gender studies. This conference is a milestone towards getting better understanding of cultural constructs and social inequalities, which consequently leads to the possibilities of greater collaboration between countries.
  
  While speaking at the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr Sarah Shahed, Director Women Institute of Leadership and Learning, said that this conference has opened new horizons for new researchers to explore and understand the contemporary gender issues from multiple perspective. She also extended her gratitude to all speakers, national and international guests and scholars. Prof Dr Shaista Khilji, Professor of Human and Organizational Learning & International Affairs, George Washington University in her closing remarks stressed on importance of future collaboration for sharing and better understanding of global gender dynamics.
  
  Dr. David Gow, Baker Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University; Dr. Ruhi Khalid , Director Institute of Psychology, Beaconhouse National University ;Brig (R)Dr. Tanvir Akhtar, Head of Department Psychology /Director Students’ Counseling, Foundation University, Rawalpindi; Dr. Misbah Tanveer, Assistant Professor, School of Business and Dr. Amen Jaffer ,Assistant Professor Sociology from Lahore University of Management Sciences; Dr. Salma Hassan, Associate Professor, Psychology Department and  Dr. Syeda Shahida Batool, Chairperson Department of Psychology, Government College University; Prof. Dr. Anila Kamal, Director National Institute of Psychology, Quaid e Azam University Islamabad; Dr. Grace Clark ,Professor Sociology and former Dean of Social Sciences, Forman Christian College; Prof. Talat Sohail,  Chairperson, Department of Applied Psychology, Lahore College for Women University; Mr. Salman Abid , Regional Head, Strengthening Participatory Organization, Lahore ; Mr. Daud Saqlain ,Head of Programs ActionAid Pakistan; Ms. Neelum Hussain ,Executive Director, Simorgh Pakistan and Ms. Wilma Van der Maten, Journalist, Correspondent Elsevier (Pakistan) chaired sessions in the conference.
  
  

  Year 2015

   

• Visit of Director WILL to GWU, Washington USA
  
  Prof Dr. Sarah Shahed attended the US- Pakistan University Partnership Workshop held in Washington DC, USA from 26th October to 2nd November 2015. The workshop was attended by around 60 participants representing US universities, Pakistani universities, Higher Education Commission, and the State Department. The certificates of participation were distributed at the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC by H.E Mr. Jalil Abbas, the Ambassador of Pakistan in the US.  Dr. Sarah Shahed was invited by the Global Gender Program of George Washington University to deliver a talk on the Discipline and Teaching of Gender Studies in Pakistan. The event, held on 4^th November 2015, was attended by students and scholars from different walks of life. The audience was impressed by the reported status of teaching and research in the discipline. 

• Prof. Dr. David D. Gow, George Washington University, visited the Department of Gender & Development Studies
  
  

  Under the GWU-LCWU partnership, program Prof. Dr. David D. Gow, Baker Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University visited the Department of Gender & Development Studies, Lahore College for Women University, in the month of October 2015. Dr. Gow is a sociocultural anthropologist who studies processes of local development, the evolution of local politics, and the relationships among participation, democracy, and citizenship. This course consisted of academic readings, discussions, and students’ individual research projects. All the faculty of Gender and Development Studies attended the program. 

• Students Exchange Program

  
  Students of Department of the Gender and Development Studies (Samina Riaz, Maryam Batool, Zille Zahra, Amna Saeed, Zarnab Rana and Arshia Yasin) visited the George Washington University, USA for summer semester this year from July 03 to August 14, 2015 under the three-year LCWU-GWU partnership program. During their six weeks stay in GWU, the students attended three research-based courses. Beside this, students attended several meetings with the officials and faculty at GWU.

  Students also attended orientation sessions about GWU police and immigration rules arranged by the international students’ office.  Students at GWU also attended the conference on “Empowering Women through Political Participation & Empowering Politics through Women’s Participation” organized by the global gender program on 30^th July, 2015. Many dignitaries from international organizations and non-government organizations and officials from state department also participated in this conference.

• Online Course of Summer Semester (George Washington University)
  
  

  Six faculty members of Gender and Development studies has successfully completed the online course of women and Global politics offered by the Elliott School of international Affairs, George Washington University during summer semester in  May to  June  2015. This course was led by the Prof.Dr. Michele A. Clark.

  This course was an overview of the global status of women in the Twenty-First Century, focusing on the discrepancies between normative frameworks and policy developed to benefit women and their actual implementation. Dr. Subha Malik, Ms. Uzma Ashiq, Ms. Farah Adil, Ms. Fareeha Anjum, Ms. Syeda Maryam Batool and Ms. Madiha Nadeem completed the course.  

• Prof. Dr. Shaista Khilji from George Washington University visited LCWU
  
  

  Prof. Dr. Shaista Khilji from George Washington University visited LCWU in the month of April, 2015. Dr. Khilji delivered workshops and trainings in different areas such as PhD Curriculum Review and Development, Professional Development workshop for LCWU faculty, Leadership Education workshop for LCWU faculty for developing leadership, Development Programs for local women communities, Train the Trainer workshop, and Scholarly Writing Workshop for LCWU Faculty.
  
  

• LCWU Faculty Visit of George Washington University, USA
  
  

  In the month of March, 2015 three faculty members from Gender & Development Studies department visited George Washington University, Washington-DC, USA under three year LCWU-GWU international Academic Partnership as short term scholars. The three faculty members of Gender and Development Studies who visited GWU were as follows:

  1. Ms. Asma Seemi Malik, Assistant Professor, BS Coordinator and PhD Scholar
  2. Ms. Fareeha Anjum, Lecturer and MS Scholar
  3. Ms. Shehla Ahmad, Lecturer, MS Coordinator and PhD Scholar

  During their three weeks stay in GWU they underwent many of activities including PhD curriculum development, observation of classes to induct effective teaching, person to person ties, and a seminar presentation on “Women’s Leadership in Pakistan- beyond Stereotypes and Myths”. 
  
  

• International Conference “Empowering Women through Political Participation & Empowering Politics through Women’s Participation”
  

  The Elliot school of international affairs, George Washington University organized an international conference titled “Empowering Women through Political Participation & Empowering Politics through Women’s Participation” on July 30^th 2015.Three papers were presented by LCWU faculty Paper titled “Legislation and Policies for Promoting Political Empowerment of Women in Pakistan” was presented by Ms Maryam Batool, co-authors were Professor Dr. Sarah Shahed and Ms Madiha Nadeem, The second paper was presented by Ms Uzma Ashiq Khan, paper titled “Women as Social and Political Leaders”, and third paper was presented by Ms Zille Zahra, paper title: “Women’s Movements in Pakistan: Activism to Politics”.