The University of Utah organised a three-day training session on teaching and learning for faculty of public universities as part of USAID’s Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA). Hosted by the National University of Technology (NUTECH) Islamabad, the workshop was attended by 31 faculty members representing 16 partner universities of HESSA.

This activity marked the opening of a nine-month training program on strengthening teaching and learning at Pakistani Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The training program will be delivered in three phases including face-to-face workshops, online boot camps with weekly assignments using a learning management system, and concluding with a study tour of the University of Alabama.

The objective of this training was to a robust faculty development programme for the Pakistani HEIs related to teaching and learning and strengthening high-impact practices and soft skills in the classrooms. It was led by Associate Dean for International Programs at the University of Alabama, Dr Lisa Pawloski, and aimed to provide leaders’ tools for the faculty to develop their own relevant workshops and mentor faculty at their respective HEIs.

During these three days, participants were introduced to the extended training program, they learned about high-impact practices and the use of collaborative learning, and discussed the concepts of assessment and online learning. A specific focus across the sessions was on how the range of instructional practices can increase student learning and awareness of soft skills.