The British Council has partnered with PoliNations to develop Pakistan-UK New Perspectives Season to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country. This season explores themes such as the influence of tea and journeys along the silk road, which shaped the countries’ history. It also fosters professional collaboration and looks ahead to shared futures.
Nishat is managing British Council’s education work in Pakistan
Nishat Riaz is the Director of Education for the British Council in Pakistan. She recently spoke to an audience at UVAS Lahore about the Council’s education work in Pakistan, and its current initiatives to improve education in Pakistan. Nishat was joined by UVAS Lahore Dean Faculty of Biosciences Prof Dr Habib-ur-Rehman and Dean Faculty of Life Sciences Business Management Prof Dr Muhammad Azam.
Nishat has over 1.5 decades of experience working in education in Pakistan. She has been instrumental in building strong institutional partnerships and developing innovative educational programmes. Nishat has also helped establish Karakorum International University, where she was the first employee and member of the Board of Governors. She has also received the President of Pakistan’s Award of Excellence.
The UK and Pakistan have developed a comprehensive strategic partnership called the Pakistan-UK Education Gateway. This involves collaborations in research, teaching, and international mobility. Through this partnership, both countries can leverage their resources and expertise to improve the quality of higher education in Pakistan. The UK and Pakistan are committed to developing human capital through mutual learning and exchange of ideas.
The session was attended by representatives of the British Council and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The participants were informed about the Teaching Excellence Framework, an exercise conducted by the UK to evaluate excellence in teaching and student outcomes in higher education institutions. The session was moderated by Prof. Chris Husbands, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students at the University of Warwick, and Prof. Stephen Fallows, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning at the University of Manchester.
The OpenELT project was completed in February 2013. The project was based on the innovative teaching methodologies of the OU. It started with a needs analysis, and then developed four training modules with rich, culturally sensitive curriculum content. The training modules were then implemented with 12 Higher Education Institutions. The project also included a comprehensive measurement and evaluation programme.
Nishat is an engineer, MBA, and MCIPD (Chartered Institute of Personal Development) who has worked in several corporate sectors. In his current position, he leads the Ethics and Compliance (ECP) portfolio at Telenor Pakistan. In this role, he oversees the firm’s values, ethics, culture, and governance. He has also worked in HR, Operations Management, and Quality Assurance.
The British Council’s 1947 activities in Burma were subject to intense scrutiny after classified documents were released. Feargal Keane’s investigation uncovered the involvement of dissident British colonial officials in the assassination of Aung San. In another document sent to the British Ambassador, the Chief of Police in Rangoon proclaimed that the British were involved in the assassination.
Nishat is founding member and the first employee of Karakorum International University
Nishat is a British Council Education Officer based in Pakistan. She has been with the organisation for nearly 1.5 decades and has helped to develop strong institutional partnerships in the region. She has also been involved in many innovative education programmes. As a founding member and the first employee of Karakorum International University, Nishat brings a wealth of international experience to the region.
Nishat is managing British Council’s governance work in Pakistan
Nishat Riaz is Director of Education at the British Council in Pakistan. She has been with the organisation for over 1.5 decades, and has played a vital role in the development of strong institutional partnerships. She has worked on programmes that address both traditional and contemporary educational challenges. Nishat is also a founding member of Karakorum International University and the University’s first employee. She has also received the President of Pakistan Award for Excellence.
Nishat’s first task was to meet with the Nishkam Group, who are passionate about values-based education and peacebuilding. Both organizations were keen to work together in these areas. Throughout the visit, the delegation visited the Nishkam Centre, where they were welcomed by the staff and guided on a tour of the Gurudwara Sahib. They also attended the World Education Conference, where they discussed issues relating to values-based education.
Nishat’s leadership skills were put to good use when she was invited to lead the British Council’s governance work in Pakistan. She has worked on developing educational policies and programmes for universities across Pakistan, and has worked with nearly all of the country’s vice-chancellors. This work has contributed to the establishment of Pakistan’s first faculty development hub.
