Education

LAHORE: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and the Aga Khan University (AKU), two of Pakistan’s leading universities, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on joint research, innovation, and education initiatives focused on key development challenges. The interdisciplinary partnership brings together the complementary strengths of the two institutions to co-develop solutions that improve the lives and welfare of communities in Pakistan and beyond. The collaboration will directly address critical issues related to health and public health, climate change and environment, education, sustainability, and inclusive development. The MoU reflects a shared recognition that addressing complex national and global challenges requires interdisciplinary approaches that combine expertise across fields. Through this partnership, AKU’s leadership in health sciences, medicine, public health, and implementation research will be combined with LUMS’ strengths in innovation and technology, data science, social and behavioural sciences, humanities, public policy, economics, and governance. Together, the two universities aim to generate evidence-based solutions that are not only academically rigorous, but also scalable, policy-relevant, and grounded in real-world needs. “By combining the complementary strengths of two of Pakistan’s leading universities across health, technology, social sciences, and public policy, this partnership will address critical challenges affecting citizens’ welfare and wellbeing,” said LUMS Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ali Cheema. “Partnerships like this matter because no institution alone can solve Pakistan’s — and the region’s — most complex challenges,” said AKU Provost, Dr Tania Bubela. “Together, AKU and LUMS can combine deep research, human insight, and AI-enabled innovation to turn knowledge into impact.” The collaboration will prioritise joint research initiatives addressing national-scale challenges, including climate resilience, environmental health, antimicrobial resistance, mental health, maternal and child health, AI and data-driven approaches for public good, and sustainable development. The universities will also work closely with policymakers, practitioners, civil society organisations, and industry partners to ensure that research findings translate into practical impact. In addition to research, the partnership will support pedagogical innovation and experiential learning opportunities for students and faculty across both institutions. Planned initiatives include collaborative academic programmes, joint seminars and workshops, interdisciplinary teaching modules, internships, research placements, faculty exchanges, and executive education initiatives. The MoU also emphasises strengthening Pakistan’s broader research and innovation ecosystem through collaboration in research administration, grant development, ethics and governance, and institutional capacity building. It will enable both institutions to jointly identify strategic themes and develop specific programmes and initiatives over time. The MoU was signed by AKU Provost, Dr Tania Bubela, and LUMS Vice Chancellor, Dr Ali Cheema. LUMS Rector, Mr Shahid Hussain, AKU Vice Provost Research, Dr Salim Virani and Dr. Farid Panjwani, Dean of AKU’s Institute for Educational Development, PK, were also present at the signing. The agreement will remain in effect for an initial period of five years.

The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has won the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2026 in the category of Outstanding Support for Students, recognising the University’s long-standing commitment to expanding access to higher education for talented students across Pakistan. The award acknowledges LUMS’ mission to address structural inequalities in access to opportunity and education that continue to shape lives across Pakistani society. This work is anchored in two interconnected initiatives: the National Outreach Programme and the Student Success Initiative. Together, these initiatives reflect a sustained institutional commitment to not only expanding access, but also enabling students to thrive academically, socially, and professionally during their time at the University. The National Outreach Programme serves as LUMS’ flagship access initiative. Through the programme, outreach teams at LUMS engage students, teachers, and families in geographically remote and economically under-resourced communities across Pakistan, encouraging high-potential students to pursue higher education opportunities that may otherwise seem beyond reach. In 2024 alone, the teams visited 276 schools across 90 cities and towns nationwide. Students selected through this process participate in a summer preparatory programme on campus, designed to prepare them for university life. Once admitted to LUMS, which requires them to succeed on merit, students receive full financial awards for their studies and living expenses as well as support through the Student Success Initiative, which provides structured academic, mentoring, wellness, and career support throughout their time at the University. This includes peer and faculty mentoring, academic advising, tutoring, counselling, wellbeing support, career readiness programmes, alumni mentorship, and community-building initiatives designed to help students thrive both inside and outside the classroom. The long-term impact of these efforts is reflected in the journeys of NOP scholars and alumni, many of whom have gone on to pursue leadership roles and careers across technology, finance, entrepreneurship, education, academia, development, and public service. Their achievements reflect LUMS’ broader mission of creating pathways for talented students to transform not only their own lives, but also the communities they go on to serve.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s educational institutes must digitise on immediate basis to stand at par with other institutes around the globe. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/pakistans-first-pkr-3-billion-aaa-rated-green-sukuk-for-telecom-sector-launched/ This was the gist of a meeting at the Education Department, University of Karachi, held to digitise its entire library. Following the meeting, an MoU was signed between Dr. Aziz-un-Nisa, Chairperson of the Department of Education and Mr. Muzzamil Safdar, Head of GSPL Academy in the presence of senior academic and corporate representatives. The initiative is aimed at enhancing students’ academic and research capabilities, and improve the department’s access to academic resources. As part of the agreement, Grow Safe — a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) organisation — donated laptops to the department, and will lead training and awareness programs at the campus to spread awareness on occupational safety and health among the students. The two sides agreed on the role of public-private collaboration in advancing educational outcomes and fostering innovation in higher education.

Pakistan: OxfordAQA – a partnership between Oxford University Press; a department of Oxford University; and AQA, the largest provider of GCSEs and A-levels in the United Kingdom (UK); have announced a groundbreaking series of ‘significant improvements;’ including earlier results, three series of yearly examinations, and two windows to submit International EPQ submission points. All advantages available to its international assessment offer now. Shaped by insights for greater advantage to the students globally, the enhancements will be introduced between 2026 and 2029, delivering greater choice and increased flexibility to plan university admissions and academic progression. They comprise: Earlier May/June Exam Results from July 2027; In 2027, International AS/A-level results day will be on 28 July, with International GCSE results on 4 August. Additional Exam Series: an October/November series for all International AS/A-level subjects from 2028, and a January International AS/A-level series for key subjects from 2029 (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Economics). Twice‑yearly International EPQ submission points, beginning in May 2026, giving students more control to develop, refine, and complete their projects.Andrew Coombe, Managing Director of OxfordAQA said: “At OxfordAQA, our commitment is to make international exams work better for everyone. These enhancements are a direct response to what schools have told us they need. By releasing results earlier, expanding exam series, and providing greater flexibility for the International EPQ, we are helping schools tailor assessment to their teaching programmes and giving students more opportunities to succeed.” The earlier release of May/June results will give International AS and A-Level students more time/options when navigating global university admissions. It will also support International GCSE learners in planning their next steps, whether progressing to further study or new programmes. Expanding the number of exam series will provide schools operating on varied academic calendars with three opportunities each year to enter students at the right time, ensuring assessment aligns more closely with teaching cycles. From 2027, OxfordAQA will also extend the entries deadline for the May/June series to early March, providing schools with the January International AS/A-level unit results before finalising entries and allowing teachers and students to make more informed decisions. All exam timings for the May/June series will remain the same, with no changes.About OxfordAQA OxfordAQA is a provider of international GCSEs, AS and A-levels, and the International EPQ. Built on a partnership between AQA—the UK’s largest provider of academic qualifications—and Oxford University Press, a department of the University of Oxford, OxfordAQA brings together unparalleled assessment expertise and educational excellence. Its qualifications are designed specifically for international learners, supporting schools around the world.www.oxfordaqa.com/examdelivery For more information, please contact: Grace Carruthers | Senior News & PR Manager | Oxford University Press | grace.carruthers@oup.com

KARACHI: To accelerate Pakistan’s transition into a global digital economy, Google for Developers, in strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom (MoITT), Telenor, and Innovista, announced the launch of AI Seekho 2026. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/pso-announces-appointment-of-jawwad-ahmed-cheema-as-ceo/ This nationwide initiative aims to equip developers and young professionals with cutting-edge artificial intelligence capabilities, entirely free of financial barriers. The program pioneers the introduction of vibe coding to Pakistani youth, a modern, intuitive, and agent-driven approach to application development. Utilizing next-generation platforms like Google AI Studio and Google Antigravity, participants will learn to build software through natural language and problem-solving, rather than traditional complex syntax. Participants can register here: goo.gle/aiseekho2026. Shaza Fatima, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, stated: “Our vision is to shift from a legacy service economy to an AI-powered, product-based economy. With 65% of our population under the age of 35, we are declaring AI a core priority to ensure that every young person from tech professionals to doctors, lawyers, and artists is empowered with the digital skills necessary to compete in the global market.” Farhan Qureshi, Cluster Director (Pakistan and Frontier Markets), Google, said: “Google believes very strongly in the future of Pakistan. Through initiatives like AI Seekho, we are helping build the necessary capacity and speed for the local ecosystem. If we want to secure Pakistan’s digital future, we must commit to scaling AI skills, ensuring that our talent can continue to lead in the global freelance and gaming industries.” A Structured “Learn, Build, Win” Journey AI Seekho 2026 moves beyond conventional lectures, offering a hands-on, two-phased competitive journey focusing on tangible deployment: ● Phase 1: Online Challenge (April 11 – May 3): Participants will master the fundamentals of Generative AI and prototyping using Google AI Studio. Participants must submit fully functional solutions in one of two tracks: Build an App (App Banao) or Build a Game (Game Uthao). ● Phase 2: Physical Hackathon (Opening Soon): Developers who will participate in this phase will be required to build solutions usingGoogle Antigravity in Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad. This will be a competition theme-based where the participants will be required to build a mobile app for a chance to win exclusive Swag and a PKR 2.5 Million prize pool! An Unprecedented Industry Collaboration AI Seekho 2026 is powered by a robust multi-partner ecosystem. Google for Developers leads the end-to-end execution, providing free cloud credits and platform access, supported by the Google Developer Groups (GDG) and Google Developer Experts (GDE) communities. Watch the full kick-off event here: https://goo.gle/aiseekho-ytlive AI Seekho 2026 invites Pakistan’s youth to learn, build, and innovate with AI. Through hands-on experiences and global collaborations, it’s creating a future-ready generation poised to lead the AI revolution.

Faster Visa Processing for PhD Students Alongside the cap exemption, PhD applicants from outside Canada will benefit from a 14-day fast-track study permit process, which also applies to accompanying family members. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched a dedicated webpage for graduate students, providing details on study programs, scholarships, and post-graduation work opportunities. “Graduate students play a crucial role in Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem and are more likely to contribute long-term to the country’s economy,” said a government official. Why the Change Matters While Canada is reducing the number of international undergraduate and college-level permits, graduate students are largely exempt from these caps. This ensures that the country continues to attract high-skilled researchers and innovators who can contribute to economic growth, scientific advancement, and innovation. The new policy reflects a strategic approach to balancing international student growth with sustainability. By 2027, Canada aims to reduce the overall temporary resident population — including students, temporary workers, and short-term visitors — to under 5% of the total population, addressing pressures on housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. What This Means for Future Students While Canada tightens rules for most international students, master’s and PhD candidates remain prioritized, ensuring continued access to one of the world’s most research-friendly study destinations. The policy underscores Canada’s commitment to attracting highly skilled international talent and reinforces its position as a leading country for advanced education and innovation.