The University of Education (UoE) Lahore, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, UK, has successfully concluded its Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program titled “Cultivating Global Citizenship: Empowering Teachers to Become Change Agents in Pakistan.” Funded by the Birmingham Institutional Impact Fund, this initiative has been executed in partnership with the Academic Leadership Innovation Forum (ALIF), the School Education Department, Punjab, the Ali Institute of Education (AIE), and The Knowledge of the Art Academy, Lahore.
Led by Dr Meng Tian, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Director of Global Engagement at the University of Birmingham, and co-led by Dr Naima Qureshi, Assistant Professor in Education at the University of Education, Lahore, the program aimed to revolutionize teacher training and promote global citizenship education in Pakistan.
Empowering Teachers and Students The project successfully trained 65 pre-service and in-service teachers from 18 schools and universities across Lahore. These educators were equipped with the knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and pedagogical approaches required to deliver global citizenship education. As a result, these teachers have emerged as agents of change, co-designing and implementing global citizenship projects and lesson plans in local schools and communities.
In 2024 alone, approximately 9,750 students benefited from enhanced global competencies through this initiative. The project’s impact is projected to reach over 12,000 students annually in the coming years.
Acknowledgments and Impact In their message of appreciation, Dr Meng Tian and Dr Naima Qureshi expressed their gratitude for the dedication and efforts of the teachers, participants, and organizers who contributed to the program’s success. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Prof Dr Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, also extended his thanks to Dr Meng Tian and all the community partners for their invaluable contributions.
Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi, Vice Chancellor of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), lauded the project team and emphasized the importance of such initiatives in advancing teacher education in Pakistan.
A Transformative Step Forward This collaboration marks a significant step toward fostering global competencies among students and educators in Pakistan. By empowering teachers to integrate global citizenship education into their curricula, the program paves the way for creating a more informed and interconnected generation of learners.