Durbeen

Our CEO, Salma Alam, spoke on two thought-provoking panel discussions Adab Festival Pakistan - 'The Power of Community: Enabling Access to Higher Education', organized by Habib University, and another panel on 'Building a Generation: Are Schools Passing Their Exam?'.

Unaeza Alvi holds an impressive academic background, having earned a Master's degree in Mathematics and Science Education from Monash University in Australia. Prior to that, she completed a Master of Science degree at the University of Karachi. Complementing her postgraduate achievements, Unaeza obtained a Bachelor of Education in Science and English Education and a Bachelor of Science with Honors, where she distinguished herself as a Gold Medalist, both from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. Leveraging her extensive educational qualifications, Unaeza currently imparts her knowledge and expertise as an educator, specifically focusing on Science Teaching Methods courses at GECE, Hussainabad. Her commitment to both theoretical understanding and practical application makes her a valuable asset in the realm of science education.

GECE knows that the quality of its faculty is essential for the quality of its teacher education programs. That's why Durbeen recruits faculty members through a rigorous and competitive process that ensures that only the best and brightest are selected.

Reflecting on a stellar night of stargazing and scientific revelations under the vast cosmic canvas.

In collaboration with Kainaat Studios, NED University and Karachi Astronomers Society, our student-teachers at GECE organized a stargazing event for students of Zindagi Trust at Khatoon-e-Pakistan School.

Looking back on the highlights from this celestial experience, where the night sky unveiled its wonders, and each scientific revelation sparked curiosity in the minds of our students.

Course Highlight: Education Psychology

Semester 5 student-teachers conducted research into the causes for academic demotivation among children aged 9-11. To do this, they undertook semi-structured interviews of a child, applied theoretical frameworks to analyze this data and then made recommendations for how to motivate the student.

Join us on Sunday at Habitt City for an insightful conversation on, BUILDING A GENERATION: ARE SCHOOLS PASSING THEIR EXAM?

BUILDING A GENERATION: ARE SCHOOLS PASSING THEIR EXAM?
Salma Alam, Rana Hussain, Hassan Khan, Faisal Mushtaq, Rukaiya Salman
Moderator: Stephen Lyon
Sunday, 26th November 2023
Time. 12:40 to 1:40 pm
Venue. Habitt City, Sharea Faisal / Tipu Sultan Road, Karachi.
www.adabfest.com

Our CEO, Salma Alam, will be part of the panel discussion on the 26th of November at the Adab Festival from 1:50 – 2:50 pm curated by Habib University on ‘The Power of Community: Enabling Access to Higher Education’.

Join us to take part in the conversation!

Mark your calendars and join us on the 26th of November at the Adab Festival from 1:50 – 2:50 pm for a panel discussion curated by Habib University on ‘The Power of Community: Enabling Access to Higher Education’. The panel discussion throws light on the significance of making higher education accessible and the collective efforts to redirect philanthropy towards this vital cause.

Expect insights from esteemed individuals including Jamal Nasir, Salma Alam, and Dr. Alexander Key—accompanied by the valuable perspectives of Habib University Alumnus and Entrepreneur, Furqan Karim.

Join us to explore 'The Power of Community' in making higher education accessible to all. Your participation is highly awaited!

Durbeen is Hiring!

Join us as a part-time Civil Supervisor! Oversee construction projects, interpret plans, and collaborate with contractors to ensure quality standards. Bring your 3+ years of experience and apply at www.durbeen.pk/careers

Join our mission to revolutionize education in Pakistan!

Become a respected member of our faculty and actively contribute to reshaping the educational landscape of the nation.

To apply, visit: https://www.durbeen.pk/careers/

Join our efforts to transform the education system in Pakistan!

Be a key member of our faculty and play a crucial role in shaping the future of education in the country.

To apply, visit: https://www.durbeen.pk/careers/

Careers – Durbeen Note: The file name should not contain an apostrophe and should be short. Only PDF, WORD & JPG/JPEG file formats are acceptable.

Onwards and upwards!

Empowerment echoes through the halls of our Adopted government schools to the conference room at Durbeen . With 70% of our staff being women, we're not just teaching empowerment, we're living it.

Join us in our mission to revolutionize education in Pakistan!

Become a valued member of our faculty and contribute to reshaping the educational landscape of the country.

Click on the link below to apply:
https://www.durbeen.pk/careers/

Careers – Durbeen Note: The file name should not contain an apostrophe and should be short. Only PDF, WORD & JPG/JPEG file formats are acceptable.

We are equally excited to see the biodiversity of our GECE Hussainabad campus!

This only happens once in the lifetime of this plant where it grows a tall spike.I m not in a botanical garden, but Teachers’Training College.If they do such thorough research on their plants,u can envision the caliber of teachers they r preparing for government schools.

On this Science Day, the students of GECE organized an insightful nature walk within our campus, aimed at exploring the rich diversity of plants that thrive here. Participants engaged in identifying various plant species while delving into the fascinating realm of their medicinal uses.

The walk commenced with a 10-minute session of breathing exercises and meditation, setting a mindful tone for the exploration ahead. It concluded with a gathering over green tea, fostering conversations centered around the crucial theme of sustainability. Participants shared thoughts on the roles we can play individually and collectively to minimize our carbon footprint.

This experiential journey not only deepened our connection with nature but also provided a platform for meaningful discussions on environmental stewardship. We extend our gratitude to all who joined, contributing to an inspiring Nature Walk at GECE.

As part of the Semester 5 CITE course, Dr. Tasnim Ahsan joined us, at GECE, as a guest speaker to speak about gender identity. This insightful conversation gave students a nuanced perspective on multi-dimensional biological and social factors that give rise to our gender identities.

Our CEO, Salma Alam, will be speaking on a panel titled 'Investing in Human Capital - Tackling Underdevelopment in Pakistan' at the 9th Islamabad Literature Festival 2023 this weekend.

For more details about the festival, visit
https://islamabadliteraturefestival.com/

Join us digitally or on-ground at the 9th Islamabad Literature Festival to hear an informative panel discussion on the topic:

Investing in Human Capital - Tackling Underdevelopment in Pakistan

Panelists:

Dr. Asad Sayeed, Economist and Researcher

He is currently the Director of the Collective for Social Science Research and has held previous roles including Senior Economist at the Social Policy Development Centre and Director of Research at the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research.

Dr. S. Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director - IBA - Institute of Business Administration

He is a renowned academic and political economist with over 35 years of teaching and research experience in Pakistan and abroad. He has served as a faculty member in institutions across the globe, including Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, the IBA and the University of Karachi.

Salma Alam, CEO – Durbeen (Public-Private Partnership with Govt. of Sindh)

She is the founder and CEO of Durbeen and is working to reform the education system of Pakistan. Durbeen has partnered with the Government of Sindh to take over the management of one of the oldest teacher education colleges in the region and has linked it with global best practices in teacher education.

Moderator:

Khalid Mahmood, Managing Director & CEO – Getz Pharma

He is a 35-year veteran of the healthcare & pharmaceutical industry. Under his leadership, Getz Pharma has become the top-ranked pharmaceutical company in Pakistan.

For more details about the festival, visit Karachi & Islamabad Lit Fests.

Our collaboration with Synapse, Pakistan Neuroscience Institute has encouraged our GECE community to foster a culture of compassion.

We have initiated five distinct projects, each with its own unique objectives, aimed at fostering a sense of empathy and understanding among our faculty, student-teachers, and administrative staff. These projects are a collective effort to strengthen our community, both within the confines of our campus and beyond, with the ultimate goal of nurturing more self-aware and empathetic educators of the future.

Hiring: Lab/Admin Assistant.

Please drop your CVs at: https://durbeen.pk/careers/

GECE hosted a session with Dr. Shahid Siddiqui as a part of our Agents of Change series.

Here are some highlights from the enlightening conversation with Dr. Shahid, moderated by our faculty members Mirbaz Khan and Nighat Shaheen, where we discussed the future of education in Pakistan through the lens of his latest book, 'Pakistan, Taleem aur Ikisvi Sadi.'

Our esteemed faculty members continue to make us proud! Congratulations Afaq Ahmed for presenting your paper at the 5th Biennial Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference, 2023.

Congratulations to faculty, students and alumni 👏👏 who presented their papers at the 5th Biennial Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference, 2023, themed "Shaping Tomorrow Together: Transformative Teaching for Engaged Learning" organised by AKU’s Network of Quality Teaching and Learning, held from October 16-18, 2023.

See details below:
+ Research Café: An Avenue to Foster Research Learning Experiences of Graduate Students | Sohail Ahmad, Aisha Naz Ansari and Dr Sadia Bhutta | Karachi
+ Building Resilience in Higher Education: Signature Pedagogies for Uncertain Times | Drs Tasneem Anwar and Meher Rizvi
+ Prevalence of ChatGPT in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Study on Perceptions of Students and Teachers in Public and Private Universities of Sindh, Pakistan | Dr Sadia Bhutta, Aisha Naz, Pervaiz Alam, Kiran Qasim Ali, Afaq Ahmed and Sohail Ahmad
+ Design-based Course for STEM Teaching and Learning in Pakistan: Reflective Insights from the Course Facilitator and a Student | Dr Tasneem Anwar and Dania Usman
+ Project-Based Learning by Design Thinking: A Pedagogy for Seamless Application of 21st Century Skills | Kiran Nanji and Dr Tasneem Anwar

Elevating STEAM education with a burst of colour!

Laboratory experience and practical activities play a vital role in enhancing the quality of STEAM Education. The value of these hands-on experiences becomes even more pronounced when students engage in thoughtful reflection and seamlessly incorporate their insights into their overall learning.

GECE student-teachers experienced a hands-on Colourful Chemistry Lab, learnt photography from a professional photographer and developed a photographic documentary of the chemistry lab portraying Colourful Chemistry of chemical reactions and changes.

We are looking for education professionals to join our team in the role of a Deputy Registrar at GECE, Hussainabad.

To be eligible for this position, candidates must hold a Masters degree in Educational Leadership or Management, and must have at least 5 years of experience in working with students in an educational institution.

Deadline to apply: 29th October 2023

Apply at: https://durbeen.pk/careers/

Zanira Hassan Kanjiani is a dedicated educator with a passion for enhancing the field of education. Currently pursuing her M.Phil. in Teacher Education at the prestigious University of Karachi, Zanira's commitment to academic excellence is evident through her previous achievement of being a Gold Medalist in B.Ed. Hons. from the same institution. With her academic prowess and expertise, Zanira guides future educators in Science Teaching Methods at GECE, Hussainabad.

GECE knows that the quality of its faculty is essential for the quality of its teacher education programs. That's why Durbeen recruits faculty members through a rigorous and competitive process that ensures that only the best and brightest are selected.

Join us for an enriching conversation with Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, a renowned educationist, linguist, and prolific writer. We'll be discussing his latest book, "Pakistan, Taleem aur Ikisvi Sadi," as we delve into the world of education and academia.

Mark your calendars for October 26th, 1:00 pm at the GECE Library, and be part of this enlightening experience. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a distinguished scholar and explore the future of education in Pakistan!

This event is open for all, click to register: https://forms.office.com/r/fzxz8KwmfB

An Enlightening Journey into Social Emotional Learning with Dr. Fatima Dar!

We had the privilege of hosting Dr. Fatima Dar, the distinguished CEO of Oak Consulting, for an insightful session on “Social Emotional Learning.” Dr. Dar, with over 26 years of national and international experience in academia and the developmental sector, led an engaging discussion that illuminated the often-neglected realm of the affective domain in education.

This special session, curated by our very own Dr. Rabia for the Class of 2025 as part of their Educational Psychology course, emphasized the crucial importance of understanding the emotional and social dimensions of learning. Dr. Dar's expertise shed light on the significance of fostering emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness among both educators and students.

Establishing a dedicated teaching cadre for foundational learning equipped with the latest tools, assessment techniques, and methodologies, such as Early Grade Reading Assessment (Egra) and TaRL, has the potential to revolutionise the design and delivery of instructions within classrooms. This effort could also redefine the role of assessments, which in the current regime primarily function only to promote students to the next grade with a superficial understanding of how well they grasped what they were meant to learn.

Even with more children attending school, Pakistan is struggling with a learning crisis Nearly four out of five children under the age of 10 in Pakistan struggle to read simple text. At the same time, only 51pc of students can solve a two-digit arithmetic problem.

Reflecting on a truly transformative event! Clayful Sculpting, Kintsugi Workshop, and our Mental Health Camp were a huge success. We've created art, embraced imperfections, and supported mental well-being. Thank you to all who joined us in this incredible journey.

Kicking off the Mental Health Week with our new faculty-student initiative, Campus Conversations!

Campus Conversations are sessions designed to expand the intellectual horizons of our students by providing them with a platform for open discourse among themselves and faculty members. This initiative helps inculcate institutional values of social responsibility, diversity, and inclusion within them.

Our first session was led by our CEO, Salma A. Alam, and our counselor, Neha Kanwal, to discuss 'Self-Care and Well-being: Coping with Harassment and Abuse.'

Here's to creating more safe spaces for dialogue and free thought.

Last week at GECE, we commemorated Teacher's Day with heartfelt tributes from students, and a delightful show that left our faculty in awe. This was followed by Dr. Meher Rizvi's enlightening session shedding light on the esteemed role of teachers in Pakistan.

Embracing self-care and mental well-being on this . Together, we're breaking the stigma and nurturing a brighter future for educators and students alike.

Quratulain Abbas is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education at the Institute of Business Management, building upon her extensive academic background. She holds an M.Phil. in Education and an M.Ed. from the same institution, demonstrating her commitment to the field. Additionally, she earned a B.Ed. degree from the University of Karachi, showcasing her dedication to the realm of education. Quratulain leverages her academic expertise by teaching Mathematics Teaching Methods courses at GECE, Hussainabad, where she imparts her knowledge and passion for education to aspiring educators. Her diverse educational qualifications and teaching experience make her a valuable asset in the field of education.

GECE knows that the quality of its faculty is essential for the quality of its teacher education programs. That's why Durbeen recruits faculty members through a rigorous and competitive process that ensures that only the best and brightest are selected.