SMIU and Evolution Signs MoU for U.S. Government-funded Access Program
Saba Noor
Karachi:Dr. Mujeebuddin
Sahrai Memon, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) and
Ms. Sidrah Niaz, Chief Executive Officer of Evolution, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) at the signing ceremony held at the Sindh Madressatul Islam
University in Karachi. The focal person from SMIU for the event Mr. Wafa
Mansoor Buriro signed the MoU as a witness.
In addition to Dr. Mujeeb
Sahrai, Ms. Sidrah Niaz, and Wafa Mansoor Buriro, the ceremony was graced by
Ms. Anastasia Kolivas, Public Diplomacy Officer, Public Diplomacy Section and
Ms. Aisha Zeeshan, English Programs Manager from the U.S. Consulate General in
Karachi. Additional attendees included
Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman, Sindh Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr.
Jamshed Adil Halepoto, Dean, SMIU, Prof. Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor,
Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam & Umerkot, Dr. Arabella Bhutto, Vice
Chancellor, University of Sufism and Modern Sciences, Bhitshah and Momal Raza,
Lecturer at University of Sufism and Modern Sciences, Bhitshah.
According to the MoU, 150
bright and economically disadvantaged students of SMIU Model School (75 boys
and 75 girls, aged 13-16- enrolled in grade 7, 8 or 9) will be taught English
language under the English Access Scholarship Program funded by the Regional
English Language Office (RELO) through the U.S. Mission in Pakistan.
The MoU will begin on May
5, 2024 and continue through February 28, 2026. Access classes are expected to
begin from June 2024. The classes will be conducted thrice a week (Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday) at SMIU Model School. Besides learning the English
language, the program also develops the student’s digital literacy skills. The
Access Program will also focus on students’ personal development by building
balanced intellectual and emotional capabilities to better prepare them for
future academic and professional endeavors.
According to the MoU, the program will hire four qualified teachers, each responsible for a class of 25 students and one academic coordinator. The program will provide periodic training on the Access curriculum to ensure effective teaching methods. Moreover, it will supply course materials and additional resources to support the students and teachers. The MoU says the students will receive a daily transport allowance of Rs.135 (may vary due to dollar rate fluctuation) to facilitate their attendance.
The agreement further
says that the program will organize outdoor events including opening/closing
ceremonies, field trips, service-learning projects, UN/U.S. celebrations and
professional development sessions to enhance the student experience.
Before signing the MoU
the Vice Chancellor of SMIU Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai Memon welcomed the guests
and appreciated the efforts of the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi for the
upliftment of education in Pakistan. Dr. Sahrai thanked Ms. Anastasia Kolivas,
Ms Aisha Zeeshan, Ms. Sidrah Niaz, and other dignitaries for being present at
the ceremony. He shed light on the past and present of SMIU and how it has
developed over the time. Dr. Sahrai expressed his will for the continued
cooperation between U.S. Consulate General sponsored programs at SMIU.
Ms. Anastasia Kolivas appreciated the efforts of Sindh HEC for their openness and commitment towards implementing the Access program at three universities in Karachi, Umerkot, and Bhitshah. She also discussed various U.S. government-funded opportunities for potential future collaborations aimed at enhancing the higher education sector in Sindh.
Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi,
Chairman Sindh HEC, appreciated the linkages between the U.S. Consulate General
and the higher education institutes (HEIs) in Sindh. He said that ventures like
the Access Program are necessary for capacity building of students. He stressed
the need for more in-depth and extended linkages between the U.S.
Embassy/Consulate and HEIs of Sindh.
Ms. Aisha Zeeshan briefed the dignitaries about the U.S. government-funded English Programs and how these have impacted the lives of many underprivileged youth by empowering them with English language skills. She said that the teachers have also been trained well throughout the RELO program. She thanked the Sindh HEC chairman, SMIU’s Vice Chancellor and all other vice chancellors present in the ceremony and pledged to continue collaborating with them in the foreseeable future.
Mr. Wafa Mansoor Buriro,
Assistant Professor at English Department of SMIU shed light upon the
partnership between the English Department of SMIU and RELO Pakistan developed
in the past few years. The ceremony ended with the presentation of shields to
the esteemed guests by Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai Memon and a group photo.
