Federal varsities to set up sub-campuses in G-B colleges for skill development

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has extended an invitation to prominent federal universities to establish sub-campuses within the existing government degree colleges. The initiative is primarily focused on offering short-term technical courses during evening shifts.

Speaking to HUM News English on Wednesday, G-B Education Minister Ghulam Shehzad Agha revealed the development following a crucial meeting in Islamabad on Monday. The assembly, led by G-B’s former chief secretary and the current Special Secretary for Federal Education, Mohiyuddin Wani, saw the participation of notable institutions including the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), National Skills University (NSU), National University of Technology (Nutech), and the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD).

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Minister Agha said that the aforementioned universities had accepted the proposal, with plans for delegations to visit G-B shortly to finalise the details. He emphasized that the envisaged campuses would concentrate on imparting high-impact IT and other technical courses with significant employability potential, rather than offering degree programs.

Agha said the G-B government would provide the necessary infrastructure, with the universities bearing all other operational costs. “This initiative marks a pivotal step in enhancing the technical skills of the youth in Gilgit-Baltistan, aligning with the region’s strategic vision for educational development and economic growth,” the minister added.

Agha said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the G-B government and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTCC) during the meeting. Under this agreement, a substantial sum of Rs 200 million has been allocated for skill training programs in Gilgit-Baltistan in the upcoming months, promising a new era of technical education in the region.

The meeting was attended by G-B Education Minister Ghulam Shehzad Agha, G-B Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmed Mirza, and the heads of the involved federal universities.