Staff Report
Peshawar: A significant milestone was celebrated at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) as the institution marked the successful conclusion of the Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program, a collaborative initiative with the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The closing ceremony, held at the university campus, was attended by distinguished guests, faculty members, and participants of the program. Ms. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the organizers and participants for their dedication and commitment. She while talking about program, enlightened the audience that the program has been initiated in 19 women universities across Pakistan and has especially been tailored keeping in view the mental health of the employees and giving them an opportunity to focus on areas they need to strengthen including personal growth, self-confidence , problem solving skills, positive thinking. The initiation of the same project is under consideration in the other universities as well. The Women Empowerment and Mentoring Program aimed to build capacity, enhance leadership skills, and provide mentorship opportunities for women in academia. Its successful execution marks a promising step forward in promoting gender equity and professional development in Pakistan’s higher education landscape.
In a notable highlight, Dr. Qibla Ayaz also graced the occasion and congratulated the university and all stakeholders on the successful completion of the initiative. He emphasized the importance of such programs in fostering leadership and academic excellence among women in higher education.
Addressing the audience, Prof. Dr. Safia Ahmed, Vice Chancellor said that WEMP program has provided structured mentorship and guidance through its five comprehensive modules.
It successfully engaged 13 mentors and provided mentorship to 67 mentees through individual sessions and five combined module sessions led by renowned academicians. Over the past three months the mentees have engaged in six impactful meetings with their mentors. This training has brought to light the importance of mentoring, its benefits, and the challenges faced by women employees in higher education, including those related to personal, academic, professional development, and work-life balance.The feedback from these mentoring sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, describing them as highly effective and impactful, contributing significantly to holistic mentee development.
“I am confident that the knowledge and skills gained through this program will significantly contribute to the professional and personal growth of all participants” she added.
Overall, this program has effectively bridged theory with practical application, empowering our mentees with essential skills for future success. The university’s unwavering commitment to these critical areas of development is truly commendable.
The success of this program is a testament to the dedication of all involved. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the 13 mentors who volunteered their time and expertise, providing individual sessions to our 67 mentees.
All speakers at the event echoed a unifying message:
“This is not the end — it is the beginning of a new journey.”
