The Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) has entered into a new partnership with Microsoft and launched the Digital Skills Initiative in Pakistan to provide a platform for skills and learning for Punjab College teachers and students. The initiative aims to reimagine the landscape of education, empower the next generation of students, and bridge the gap between knowledge and employment.
Punjab Group of Colleges’ educational alliance with Microsoft aims to enable the next generation of computer science/IT professionals with the latest technologies including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security and business applications. , office automation / productivity tools etc. More than 25,000 students and educators of Punjab Group of Colleges across Pakistan will have access to all educational resources and tools through platforms like Microsoft Learn for Educators, Microsoft Showcase Schools Program and Microsoft Learn for Students. Free Basic Skills Certificate.
The apparent motivation behind this move is probably the fact that Pakistan produces about 445,000 university graduates and 25,000-30,000 computer science graduates every year, most of whom require industrial skills. In the process of over-producing graduates, instead of allowing employers to train the graduates themselves, universities sacrifice the quality of the education provided so that they can use it in industry and benefit their employers. They are Madsar Farooq; Group Chief Technology Officer, Punjab Group of Colleges expressed his views and said:
“Today, just getting a degree is not enough. 80% of employers believe that graduates are not fully equipped with job-ready skills. We at Punjab Colleges Group believe that to stay relevant and in demand, we must innovate to sustain. Keep up with the ever-changing world and provide the right curriculum and skill-building resources to ensure students are prepared for the future.
Creating an engaged and digitally skilled workforce enables productivity growth that leads to more and better jobs for the existing workforce, greater public and private investment in education and training systems. It creates and increases the employment and productivity of the current and future workforce. . . Gibran Jamshad, Microsoft’s country training officer for Pakistan, Lebanon and Jordan, said at the opening of this initiative:
“As digital transformation accelerates across industries, digital skills are more important than ever, with nearly every job requiring some level of digital proficiency. To achieve the best career outcomes in today’s digital economy, colleges and universities must ensure that their students are. Equipped with the right 21st century skills and knowledge for their desired careers upon graduation. This is in line with our commitment to provide the resources and tools the sector needs to create the next generation workforce and enable knowledge Learners and educators to do more with less.
Today, Pakistan has a large number of graduates. Rapid population growth and a young population, coupled with limited employment growth, means that unemployment and underemployment will continue to be serious social problems in Pakistan. Studies also show that job creation in the country is hampered by several unresolved challenges related to private investment, labor laws and economic development.
Curriculum content, assessment schemes, and students’ poor language and communication skills were also identified as areas for improvement. Although the Higher Education Commission has standardized the curriculum for most university studies, content delivery remains a serious challenge. In such cases, more emphasis will be placed on practical experience as part of the educational methods adopted by universities.