TP Report
MARDAN: A delegation from UN Women, working under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)–funded “Digitalization for Women’s Economic Empowerment (D4WEE)” Project, visited Women University Mardan to review the arrangements and infrastructure for the establishment of a Multipurpose IT Skills Center at the university.
The visit was aimed at assessing the university’s capacity and readiness for the implementation of the project, which seeks to enhance digital literacy and economic opportunities for women across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the visit, the delegation held a detailed meeting with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana, who welcomed the initiative and appreciated the efforts of UN Women and KOICA for promoting women’s empowerment through digital education and skill development. She emphasized that such initiatives are crucial for enabling women to participate actively in the modern digital economy and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), the Head of the Computer Science Department, and the Assistant Director IT. Participants discussed various aspects related to the establishment of the proposed Multipurpose IT Skills Center, including infrastructure requirements, training facilities, digital equipment, and potential training modules.
The delegation was given a comprehensive briefing about the university’s existing academic programs, technological facilities, and ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting digital literacy and research. Officials from the university assured the visiting team of their full cooperation in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
As part of the visit, the delegation also toured different departments and IT facilities of the university to evaluate the available resources and identify suitable spaces for the establishment of the new center.
According to project details, the D4WEE initiative aims to equip around 6,000 women across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with essential digital and IT skills, enabling them to access better employment opportunities and entrepreneurial prospects in the digital marketplace. Out of these, approximately 1,700 women from Mardan district are expected to benefit directly from the training programs to be offered through the proposed center.
The initiative is expected to play a significant role in bridging the digital gender gap, enhancing women’s participation in the workforce, and promoting sustainable economic empowerment through technology-driven education.
University officials expressed optimism that the establishment of the Multipurpose IT Skills Center at Women University Mardan will serve as a major step toward strengthening women’s digital capacities and creating new pathways for economic independence for women in the region.
