By Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Speakers of the International Conferences on “Innovation in Teaching, Learning and Distance Education and E-learning” stressed the need for the adoption of innovative solutions in order to ensure delivering quality education and producing knowledge in line with the aspiration of the Muslim world.
The Conference was organized by the Department of Education of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) on Thursday.
The Speakers discussed policies, pedagogies, and current level of access to the digital world.
They deliberated ways to modify, reassess, and replace the outdated practices for sustainable development in education.
They also discussed challenges for e-learning from four perspectives including social issues, pedagogical, harnessing technology for teaching and learning, and the psychological were discussed.
Around 150 papers were presented by renowned national and international experts and researchers of the field of education on innovation in teaching, learning, distance education, and E-learning. International Experts from the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Gulf states, Austria, and Canada are virtually participating in the conference.
The Concluding Ceremony was addressed by President IIUI Dr. Hathal bin Homoud Al-Otaibi as a Chief Guest. He said that IIUI is committed to working hard for delivering quality education and producing knowledge in line with the aspiration of the Muslim world.
Hailing the organizers, he said that the Department of Education is one of the most dynamic departments of the University which has achieved many milestones in the field of teaching, training, and research in its short history.
Dr. Hathal maintained that E-learning and innovation are the salient needs of education in the future. He said that Universities must focus on the use of modern techniques of teaching and learning.
The IIUI president also emphasized that faculty must remain updated to the advancements of the technology.
The Conference was also attended by a renowned Online Teaching Distance Learning Expert and Vice President (Administration, Finance, and Planning) at IIUI Professor Dr. N.B. Jumani, the Vice President (HS&R) at IIUI Professor Aqdas Naveed Malik, the Dean Faculty of Social Sciences of IIUI Dr. Samina Malik, the Head of the Department Dr. Muhammad Munir Kayani, the Chairperson Department of Education at IIUI Dr. Shamsa Aziz, and experts of the field of education, faculty members of the department and students.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Jumani appreciated the role of IIUI’s education department at national and international forums terming it as the Country’s one of the most recognized and professional departments. He told that the department is among the top five departments across the Country having X Category.
Professor Jumani also apprised about the department’s two journals on innovation and e-learning and distance education adding that both of those have been international hailed and recognized.
The IIUI vice president also discussed the global landscape with the view of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the circumstances have doubled the importance of distance education and e-learning. He said that Pakistan has a bright future in the field of education as the nation’s vision is evident since it has established Open University in the 1970s.
He also stressed upon the importance of indigenous publications saying that the country has enough potential to deal with the scarcity of indigenous publications.
Earlier, Dr. Samina elaborated the aims objectives and of the Conference.
“The conference provided an opportunity to the young researchers and educationists to set their future directions by becoming part of this inspiring and enlightening experience,” she said.
Dr. Samina shed light on the importance of innovation and teaching in learning and also portrayed the nature of the department’s scope with the advent of distance education that she said has become more vital in the global pandemic landscape. She thanked national and international speakers with for active participation and hoped that the conference will result in the best recommendations on the discussed theme.
