The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced the winners of the Best University Teacher Awards for 2022. The awards were presented in a ceremony organized by the HEC, recognizing outstanding faculty members from Pakistani universities in three categories: Life Sciences & Medicine, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Social Sciences & Humanities.
The annual initiative aims to acknowledge exceptional university teachers and inspire faculty members to improve their teaching and mentoring skills. This year’s winners include Dr. Syeda Salma Hassan from Government College University, Lahore, Dr. Kamran Khalid from Fatimah Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, and Rafia Mumtaz from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). They won in the categories of Social Sciences & Humanities, Life Sciences & Medicine, and Physical Sciences & Engineering respectively.
The award ceremony was presided over by Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, with Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, Advisor Academics Engr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, Vice Chancellors of various universities, faculty members, and a large number of students in attendance.
In addition to the teacher awards, the event also included the distribution of cash prizes and certificates to the winners of the Inter-University Essay Writing Competition. The competition was organized by the HEC to mark Pakistan’s 75th anniversary and to understand the aspirations of the country’s youth.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, in his address, emphasized the importance of education and training for the youth. He expressed satisfaction at the high participation of female faculty and students in the HEC initiatives and noted that the involvement of candidates from remote areas indicates increasing inclusivity in the country’s education sector.
Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail, in her welcome address, underscored the crucial role of teachers in educating the youth and shaping their character. She encouraged students to excel in their respective fields and prepare for their future roles in Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
Advisor Academics Engr. Muhammad Raza Chohan provided insights into the selection process for the Best University Teacher Award. He revealed that the HEC received 51 nominations for the award, and two expert committees played a vital role in finalizing the winners.
Each of the Best University Teachers received a cash prize of Rs. 1 million. The Inter-University Essay Writing Competition awarded cash prizes ranging from Rs. 500,000 for the first position to Rs. 100,000 for the fourth to tenth position holders in both Urdu and English categories. The top three winners in the Urdu category were Talha Ijlal, Saifullah, and Lubna Maryam, while Syed Haris Nawaz, Muhammad Wajid, and Nimra Arooj secured the top three positions in the English category.
