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Table of Content

1. Executive Summary 02

2. Background 03

3. Duration of the Program 03

4. Objective of the Program 03

5. Training Awarded to Mehran University of

Engineering & Technology (MUET) Jamshoro 04

6. Modules Covered in Training at MUET 04

7. Registration 08

8. Inauguration Ceremony 09

9. Training Duration 09

10. Expenditure 09

11. Infrastructure & Facilities 09

12. Visit of HEC Team 11

13. Participation in Global Entrepreneurship Week 13

14. Mentoring Sessions of International Speakers 15

15. Absorption in National Economy After Training 16

16. Alumina Database 16

17. Feedback of the Participants 16

18. Evaluation Form 16

19. Connect via Social Media and Portal 16

20. Learning of Participants from Training 16

21. Graduation Ceremony 17

22. Success Stories 18

23. Annexure-A

23.Annexure-B

24.Annexure-C

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Executive Summary

Innovation Entrepreneurship Center Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Jamshoro has

successfully arranged the training of Master degree holders in general subjects which was initiated with

the coordination of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to attain the Vision 2025 targets set by the

Government of Pakistan. The training awarded to IEC-MUET was “Small Business

Startup/Entrepreneurship”. The whole training was divided into 05 skill sets and each skill set was

incorporated with 02 courses. Mehran University will help the Master Degree Holder Trainees to acquire

the right mix of technical and soft skillsets that will increase their chances of employment. Mehran

University has world class faculty/trainers and exceptional facilities to create a conducive learning

environment. The trainers of the courses were highly skilled professionals in their areas who taught

participant with mix blend of class room teaching, field education and practical. All participants were

provided training material and stationery free of cost along with free accessibility on IT equipment.

Participants were also served with refreshment during the training.

During the training, trainers and supporting staff supported the participants to start business and search for the jobs. Participants were provided all facilities which are allowed for regular students of MUET. They were also aided in their job search and followed up via alumni feedback.

At the end of the training, evaluation of the participants was carried out to know how much they have

absorbed from the training. The evaluation result of participant was very much satisfactory. Participants

also expressed their views about the training through feedback forms and evaluation forms and seemed

to be satisfied from the whole process as the training uplift their skills and capabilities. Participants were

divided into 03 groups according to their contribution in national economy. Some of them got jobs, some

were preparing for test and interviews and appearing in test/interviews in different organization while

some started their business.

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Bridging the Job Market Skill Gap for General Post Graduate Degree Holders

A Project of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

Background

With the advent of digital revolution, economies are in great stress. Digital revolution has given birth to several capital intensive industries and at the same time it become cause of seizure of several industries and halt the production (like clock industry, wrist watch, alarm clock, photo camera etc.). These capital intensive industries, IT based industry, etc. have created jobs for highly skilled workforce and shrink the space for general degree holders. The unemployment is rampant and is creating hindrance to harness the real potential for development of the nations.

One of the factor for slow growth of nations’ economies is that academic qualifications and skillsets of the workforce are not matching with the requirement of the industries as the novel ideas and sophisticated technologies are shaping economies. Keeping in view of these challenges, planning and economic divisions of nations along with higher education institutes are developing policies to overcome the challenges created in new era.

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan along with Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms has launched a skill based training program which is integrated with the Vision 2025 of Government of Pakistan and aims to train 5000 youth with skills required in digital economy. This training program is open to all youths who have Master’s degree in general subjects like arts, languages, humanities, social studies so that they can learn the new skill sets to contribute towards growth of national economy through entrepreneurship or becoming part of any organization.

Duration of the Program

This program was on pilot test and spanned into the duration of 04 months likewise a semester. The extension of the program would be subjected to condition if it pilot test meets its objectives.

Objective of the Program

The program was customized to impart training of skills which is requirement of market and are considered as primary activities of any industry like marketing, sales, aftersales services, etc. Its ultimate objective was to absorb the graduates in the national economy either through job or through entrepreneurship.

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Training Awarded to Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET) Jamshoro

Mehran University of Engineering & Technology was awarded training of “Small Business Startups (Entrepreneurship)” which was then managed by Innovation, Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) MUET. Its focal person was Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Umrani, Manager IEC MUET. IEC MUET had set 03 milestones of this training to measure success of the program which are as follow:

Number of participants getting Jobs

Number of participants starting their own businesses/launching startups

Number of participants availing trainings/scholarships

Modules Covered in Training at MUET

Mehran University helped the participants to acquire the right mix of technical and soft skillsets that increased their chances of employment. Mehran University has world class faculty/trainers and exceptional facilities to create a conducive learning environment. Five skill sets were identified and 02 modules were placed under each skillset. Carefully selected 10 modules were combined to build comprehensive employability skills for today’s job market. Introduction of each skill set along with related module is given below:

English & Communication Skills

1) Module English Language 2) Module Communication Skills

For English and communication skills we have the expertise of the Directorate named English Language Development Centre (ELDC). This is the first Self Access Center (SAC) in province Sindh and hub of teachers' training in the province. The SAC offers training on Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Internet based learning (IML). The main purpose of this center is summarized in following points:

To facilitate Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff of the University in coping with academic, professional and language-related challenges by providing them with the congenial training environment.

To assist various departments of the University in terms of teaching English as a compulsory and foundation course as required by HEC curriculum policy, Pakistan.

To help the participants learn effective communication by developing in them both written

and oral skills of communication, they need to be successful in their professional lives.

To make the participants familiar with the real life communication issues, personal interviews with business associates and academics other than the theoretical discussions are the hallmark.

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This directorate is headed by Dr Habibullah Pathan (Humphrey Fellow MIT, USA) with highly competent faculty as:

Dr. Habibullah Pathan, DirectorM. Ed. ELT (Glasgow)., PhD (Glasgow)

Dr. Natasha Memon, Assistant Professor M.A, PhD (Edinburgh)

Dr Ambreen Shahriar,M.A (Leicester)., PhD (London)

Dr Faraz Bughio,M.A., PhD (Sussex) and others.

ICT & Computer Skills

3) Module MS Office 4) Module Internet & Research Skills

To conduct the ICT & Computer skills training, we have the specialized Institute called Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) headed by the internationally acclaimed Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhary, Dean Faculty (FEECE). This institute has become ICT hub with 450 graduate (Masters and PhD) participants from all over Pakistan and from different countries of the world. For the above two modules, we shall be utilizing the expertise of Computer Systems and Software Engineering Departments. The exceptional resource persons available for these modules include:

Prof. Dr. Sheeraz Memon Chairman Computer Systems Dept.

Prof. Dr. Tariq Jamil Saifullah Khanzada Professor, PhD (Germany)

Dr. Shahnawaz TalpurAssociate Professor, PhD (Beijing)

Management & Organizational Skills

5) Module Finance & Management 6) Module Office Admin. & Organization Skills

To conduct the above 2 modules, we utilized the combined resources of Mehran University Institute of Science, Technology and Development (MUISTD) which also offers MBA program and our professional officers from the Administration Section. MUISTD has been established to produce highly qualified manpower, as well as, to formally train the existing personnel already in charge in

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this field. It is established to be a center of excellence for teaching, training and research required to respond to the modern day challenges. Its trainings are designed to equip the human resource to respond to the need of rapidly changing business environment. Available resource persons are:

Engr. Saghir Ahmed Memon Director Works & Strategic Planning

Dr. Arabella BhuttoCo-Director MUISTD, PhD (UK)

Dr. Zahid Ali MemonSecretary MUISTD, PhD (Beijing)

Job Hunting & Career Counseling Skills

7) Module Career Counseling 8) Module Job Hunting Skills

The purpose of this skill was to support participants in their growth and development, learning and studying and in the planning of their life-paths and future. Through these modules, they can explore and assess changes in society, diversification in career counselling environments, changes in education and working life and the opportunities that are created, and to identify and exploit these opportunities.

To impart these two skills, we have the acumen of the Student Advisor Office, the Student Welfare Office and the ORIC office which is responsible for industry liaison and internship placements. Furthermore, we have resource persons from the industry and the British Council.

Prof. Dr. Tanweer Phulpoto Student Advisor, PhD (UK)

Dr Pervez Hameed Shaikh Manager (ORIC), PhD (Malaysia)

Abdul Bari British Council Master Trainer

Entrepreneurship & Marketing Skills

9) Module Retail & Marketing Skills 10) Module Innovation & Entrepreneurship

These courses were heart of this training program. Currently, entrepreneurship is viewed as one of the important industry for the economy of Pakistan to flourish and grow. Government of Pakistan along with provincial governments are focusing on entrepreneurship to absorb the young and educated workforce in national economy. Business incubation centers are being inaugurated in several major cities of Pakistan.

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Besides this, government is funding several private and semi-private programs to develop youth so that they can opt the path of entrepreneurship. Recently, GoP has launched digital Pakistan policy, in which stress is laid on entrepreneurship. To promote entrepreneurship in the region, Mehran University has established the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC). The expertise of IEC and MUISTD shall be utilized to teach the above skillsets. The resource persons include:

Dr Zulfiqar Ali Manager Entrepreneurship & Innovation, PhD (France)

Dr Asif Ali Shah Asst. Professor (MUISTD)

Brief summary of all training modules is given below. First five modules were covered in August and September while last 05 modules were covered till 07-Dec-2018.

Module Training Module Training

M1 English Language M6 Small Business Organizational Skills

M2 Computer Skills M7 Small Business and Finance Management

M3 Internet and Research Skills M8 Business Communication

M4 Career Counseling M9 Entrepreneurship

M5 Job Hunting Skills M10 Startup/Product Marketing Skills

Registration

Registration of Participants through HEC

Initial registration of participants HEC was 52 which was provided to MUET by HEC for further working to administrate the training.

Supporting staff of HEC training contacted via call and SMS with all 52 participants and ask them to submit CNICs. After getting CNICs, training supporting staff contacted them to attend orientation session and 29 participants attended orientation session. Just after start of the training 06 more participants left the training due to their selection in HEC training at other locations. Finally, MUET get 23 participants to participate in training and all participants belong to outstation.

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Inauguration Ceremony

The training was inaugurated on 6-August- 2018 by the Vice Chancellor MUET Prof Dr. Muhammad Aslam Uqaili.

Training Duration

Training period spanned over duration of 04 months and is conducted from Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 13:00. Each module was allocated time duration of 45 minutes. First five modules were covered in August and September while last five modules were covered till 07-December-2018.

Expenditure

Total expenditure was divided into two components:

(1) Expenditure on participants which includes stipend, refreshment, training material, stationary, certificate which costs

(2) Administrative cost which includes remuneration to trainers, supporting staff, training

coordinator, audit and finance, administration overhead and contingency.

Regular Students Attended Orientation Registered

10

0

29

20

52

60

50

40

30

Statistics of Registered Participants

23

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Infrastructure & Facilities

MUET provided a range of facilities to HEC training participants to create an atmosphere of shared vision

for enhancing the lives. An overview of facilities and resources available to participants is provided below.

Lecture Halls

IEC MUET provided a safe space where learning can take place uninterrupted by other distractions. Training was arranged in the classes which have following facilities:

PA System in Classes.

Over Head Projectors.

Multimedia Systems.

Wireless internet in classes

Computer Labs

Participants of the training were provided uninterruptable access to computer lab of IEC along with

internet facility. Participants were allowed to carry out practical work of different subject in that lab. Dedicated facility of multimedia, scanning and printing facility was also provided to participants free of cost.

Library

HEC training participants were also provided full access to library of the MUET. There are more than 400 reader spaces with a mixture of comfortable informal seating and traditional study desks. Participants were also allowed to use their laptops along with internet facility in the library. Participants were also allowed to lend any book from library as per term and condition and their rental charges were paid through IEC MUET.

ID Cards

Participants were provided identity cards so that they have hassle free entrance within the university and can move freely within the university premises.

Transportation Facility

The timing of the training was matched with the working hours of the university so that participant can easily and safely reach the training place during rush hours at road. Transport session was also informed to allow HEC training participant to use transport of the university free of cost.

Sports and Gymnasium Facility

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MUET's sports culture is quite diverse and rich. Interested participants take part in a range of sports such as; basketball, shooting ball, squash, table tennis, badminton, athletics, cricket, football, hockey, handball and Tennis, among others. A team of HEC participants were also formed which were allowed to participate in different sports events. Besides this, participants were provided access to gym facility to keep themselves fit and sound.

Refreshment

Daily refreshment, which include tea/cold drink and snacks (Samosas and Pettis), is provided to participants in break-time.

Training Material

Each participant was provided with

16GB USB (Kingston)

Course Module Material (In USB)

Diary, clipboard

Packet of pen and pencil

Papers for Printing

Other material as per requirement

Visit of HEC Team

Today on 22-Oct-2018, a monitoring team of project steering committee of HEC visited IEC to evaluate performance of training program of HEC “Bridging the Job Market Skill Gap for General Post Graduate Degree Holders” which is running at Innovation Entrepreneurship Center Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Jamshoro. The team was comprised of following three members:

Mr. Zafar Ul Hassan, Chief, Macro- Economics. (Nominee of Member Social Sector, Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms)

Prof. Dr Abdul Qadeer Rajput, Chairman, Charter Inspection & Evaluation Committee, (Nominee of Secretary, HED, Govt. of Sindh)

Mr. Muhammad Bilal, Deputy Director, P&D, Higher Education Commission Islamabad.

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The team was in coordination with Mr. Tarique Masroor Bhutto, Assistant Manager IP IEC since Sunday 21-Oct-2018 who arranged their transportation through MUET Khairpur campus from Sukkur IBA University and residence at MUET. The team proceed towards IEC at 09:30AM where whole IEC team welcomed the team and greeted them. After which HEC team directly proceeded towards training class room where the lecture of Dr. Adnan was going on. After listening to brief lecture they came to interact with the participants to have feedback from them. They asked to participants to introduce themselves before them and took suggestions from participants how future courses should be designed? how many

participants want to be entrepreneurship in future? What features compelled participants to apply in this course? During the session Dr. Zahid Hussain Memon, Secretary MUISTD, also arrived to welcome the t eam also. After which team was taken to have brief visit of IEC, show them incubation offices and presented them brief introduction of each startup. They got impressed from the working of IEC and suggested to apply in social entrepreneurship of federal government program.

Afterward, HEC team along with IEC team proceeded towards committee room to know about the progress of training program.

Mr. Rabel Ahmed, Assistant Manager, presented before them objectives of IEC, entrepreneurship programs run by IEC, awareness IEC created in university, participation of IEC’s startups in national and international events and also presented about the detail of the HEC training program, modules designed for the program, financial structure of the program and answers their queries. The committee was also informed that IEC is working to file a petition before high court of Sindh to make startups tax free for five years to flourish them. On which they appreciated this step and asked IEC to submit that request via email to Ministry of Finance. The monitoring team provided following inputs for the program:

IEC should also create Facebook page of HEC training to have interactive with them after leaving IEC.

Mr. Zafar ul Hassan also suggested to apply in social entrepreneurship program of federal government which is operating under Planning and Development Department.

They also suggested to email ministry of finance to make startup tax free for five years to flourish business.

Team suggested to have sessions with local entrepreneurs for motivation. A feedback report of any one of the participant to be emailed to them regarding learning of the

course.

Finally, IEC team presented to Ajraks to committee members.

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Participation in Global Entrepreneurship Week

Participants of HEC trainings were also allowed to participate in the event of MUET Jamshoro named as Global Entrepreneurship Week. Participants were allowed to participate in two different seminars on each consecutive day. Brief detail of the activities is given below:

A Day with Entrepreneurs’, Youth +

Women Entrepreneurs

The main purpose of this event was to

infuse spirit of entrepreneurship within the participants, promotion of women entrepreneurship and to

inform participants about launch of second cohort of RINU project to attain SDGs through social

entrepreneurship. The speakers of this event were young entrepreneurs and industrial experts from

different backgrounds.

Ms. Mehak Pahwaner, CEO Calibrate Trainings, presented before audience her entrepreneurship journey

and inspired girl participants. She told participants factors that motivated her to start her own business.

She introduced her team members with the participants which were also females.

Mr. Abid Lashari, CEO of a Social welfare told participants that he wants to become engineer but his

conditions did not allow him to become engineer and now several engineers are working in his

organization.

Mr. Hamza Qaimkhani, Young

Entrepreneur and Ex-President

Pakistan Debating Society told

participants how he started business

hostels while studying in Karachi. Mr.

Ajmal Sikandar, Director HR VIVO,

told participants about saturation of

job market in different

manufacturing and servicing sectors

and told participants success stories

of several engineering background

student startups who become

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leading service provider in different industries. He

told that if they want to learn excel in career they

should start their own business as current economic

scenario of Pakistan is predicting future of

entrepreneurship.

Dr Zulfiqar Ali Umrani while addressing audience

told that average participants always do average

things but to become successful in professional

career, you have to become crazy. He encouraged

participants to apply in RINU project if they want to

become extraordinary.

The speakers appreciated the efforts of IEC for arranging the training on Entrepreneurship for general

post graduate degree holders to bridge the job market skill gap.

Launch of Hult Prize and Talk of Ms. Arvea Marieni GCM Consulting, Germany

On second day, Hult Prize International was launched. IEC MUET has initiated this project with

the coordination of Hult Prize International. More 100 S participants participated in this event.

Dr Zulfiqar Ali Umrani while addressing audience told them that besides national and regional

opportunities, IEC has brought the international

opportunities for the participants to excel in

entrepreneurship. He told the audience that in

future only those economies will prosper where

youth focus on the entrepreneurship. He also gets

the attention of the participants towards social

entrepreneurship to attain SDGs in the region where

there is potential to capture the business and ideas

which are related to social cause are highly

appreciated in any competition.

He also told participants that the projects of IEC are getting appreciated by international

celebrities and showed them video message of Ms. Samar Sameer Mezghanni who appreciated

RINU project of IEC and laid stress on importance of startups for social cause and SDGs.

The participants were also trained to know how to make the business pitch and what is effective

method to pitch their idea before judges.

The chief guest of this event was Ms. Arvea Marieni. While addressing with audience she

appreciated the quality of ideas of the participants and their interest in entrepreneurship and told

that IEC has created awareness for entrepreneurship in short period of time.

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Mentoring Sessions of International Speakers

Nauman Khan Azeemi

One-day mentoring session on the topic “Design Your Life” was arranged with the participants. The mentor of this session was international trainer Nauman Khan Azeemi who holds the distinction of being the only Pakistani to be a certified transformational success coach, and leadership trainer and motivational speaker from the most influential names in public speaking, leadership training and success coaching. He has had an extensive experience in IT industry, and worked with fortune 500 companies to create and improve their Software quality assurance processes, establish SQA departments and provide consulting services.

While speaking with the participants he told them to be curious in t heir professional life because Studies have shown that curiosity tends our brain for learning new things. He told them to any everything is possible in life and participants should try to reframe the problem. He told that most of the biases that can limit our thinking and restrict our choices. But when we frame things, we can often look at situations in a new light and come up with much better solutions to them. Finally, he told participants that to be successful entrepreneurs they should never shy to ask for help, support and feedback from their circle because entrepreneurship is a collaborative process. He told that an open approach to new ideas provide your new directions and aspect and increases your chances of success.

Dr. Craig Watters

One Day training session of participants were arranged on the topic “Social Entrepreneurship”. The speaker of the session was Dr. Craig Watters who works as Associate Professor at the School of Entrepreneurship in the Norman C. Stevenson Chair in School of Entrepreneurship Oklahoma

State University. He is an accomplished scholar, educator, entrepreneur, manager, and economic developer. He also helped conceptualize and launch the highly successful South Side Entrepreneurial Connect Project, which has contributed to the transformation of an economically-challenged inner city community.

While addressing audience he told that when we listen about social entrepreneurship, it comes to our mind that we will work for an organization who is serving a social cause and will not earn any profit. But this concept is needed to be modified because

eventually this social services is needed to be extended to other regions and communities for which we

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8

Statistics of Participants According to Absorption in National Economy

7 7

6

4 3 3 3

2

0

Got Jobs Appearing in Tests/Interviews

Started Business Planning to Start Non-Serious Students Business

need capital and resources which is needed to be earned through existing organization. Besides this, we have to cover all administrative cost via that organization. He told that Not-for-Profit is pure business strategy to compete. Finally, he also listens to participants and respond to their queries.

Absorption in National Economy After Training

Trainers and Resource person of the HEC trainings when interacted with the participants of the training classified participants into 3 categories; participants who are interested to get job and want to prepare themselves for the job; participants who are much interested in business or want to expand their business; and participants who were not serious.

Trainers focused on first category of the participants and provide them individual attention in classes and after training hours. These participants were prepared how to prepare CV as per requirement of each job, how to prepare themselves during interview day; how to portray their weaknesses positively during interview and to remain confident during interviews. They were training to have strong grips on MS office particularly MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint as these skills are basic requirement of every job.

Second category of participants were trained to know how to prepare business plan through class works and home assignments. Step by step activities and exercises were carried out through these participants to know their ideas why they are starting a particular business, what long term objectives they have set, who are the competitors and how they will compete them, methods to analyze their competitors, analysis of the industry, applied research to know requirement of their product or service in market, HR requirement, operational expenditure and so on and about financial statement to know about the position of the business and profit statement. They were also trained to know the importance of MS office skills in managing the business, get them trained and different assignments were given them to have a firm grip on MS Excel in particular as it is one of the main skill for them to manage financials of their business.

Third category of the participants were also forced to learn from the training and they were engaged in class assignments, presentations and group participations so that in future if they have any plan for job or business they can utilize the basic knowledge imparted to them through training.

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Alumina Database

IEC MUET have maintained the alumni database of the participants to keep in touch with the participants in the future and to inform them for the job opportunities. Besides this, participants were connected via social media; WhatsApp group and Facebook page. Alumina database is available online and its sample is provided in Annexure-A for the readers.

Feedback of the Participants

At the end of the training, all participants were provided feedback form to express their views and ideas about the training. Two feedback forms are attached in Annexure-B so that reader can have clear overview of the training.

Evaluation Form

An evaluation form was designed for the participants to let the IEC-MUET know how they are going contribute in national economy i.e. through job, entrepreneurship or pursuance for higher education through scholarships. Two filled evaluation forms are provided in Annexure-C for reader to have overview of the participants’ evaluation.

Connect Via Social Media and Portal

WhatsApp group and Facebook page of HEC participants was also created to keep them in touch with IEC MUET and to inform them regularly about the opportunities. Also IEC-MUET created “Opportunity section” on the webpage of IEC and get it updated regularly with the job opportunities, business competitions and scholarships. Through these apps participants were informed about

Learning of Participants from Training

All participants are able to write their resume along with their cover letter.

All participants are well versed how to use computer and how to use IT.

All participants are able to work on MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint.

All participants are able to know how to prepare business canvas model.

All participants are able to know how to secure job using internet.

All participants are able to know about marketing research before launching their business.

All Students are able to work on MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint.

All students are able to know how to prepare business canvas model.

All students are able to know how to secure job using internet.

All students are able to know about marketing research before launching their business.

IEC, MUET Celebrates HEC Diploma Program and SSBC Winners Ceremony

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (IEC), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology

(MUET), Jamshoro celebrated graduation ceremony of four-month ‘Bridging the Job Market Skill Gap for

General Post Graduation Degree Holders, Small Business and Entrepreneurship’ program and 1st and 2nd

winners of Student Startup Business Competition 2nd cohort (SSBC) announced here on Friday at the IEC,

MUET, Jamshoro.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, Vice Chancellor MUET was chief guest in the ceremony. Whereas

Prof. Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali, Pro-Vice Chancellor MUET, and Mr. Tahir Mehmood Chaudhry, President

and CEO, Pakistan Institute of Entrepreneurship, and Turnaround Management Consultant & Chartered

Member of Turnaround Management Association Pakistan was guest of honor to the ceremony and

other Dean and faculty members attended the ceremony. The HEC program beneficiaries and SSBC 2nd

Cohort winners were also part of the ceremony.

Honorable guests and beneficiaries participating in the ceremony.

Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Umrani, Manager IEC welcomed the honorable guests and beneficiaries with the

overview of HEC diploma program and SSBC background. He said that “We are thankful to HEC for

funding this program and we feel proud to implement this program successfully for jobless

postgraduates of the region.” He said that they have achieved the purpose of the program successfully.

Most of the beneficiaries are earning through job and own business. “We are proud to make them

earning member of the society”, said Dr. Zulfiqar. However, he congratulated SSBC 2nd Cohort winners

for their achievement of 1st and 2nd prize. He asked Unicycle team (1st Prize winning team) to work on

their project very fast to bring energy transition in the university. And he also congratulated Elementary

Education for Visually Impaired team (2nd Prize winning team) to also work and develop their product

and commercialize it as soon as possible. 1st Prize in SSBC competition amounting Rs.300,000 and 2nd

prize Rs.200,000.

Dr. Zulfiqar Umrani, Manager IEC welcoming the guests and Vice Chancellor MUET, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili addressing the participants.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Uqaili said in his chief guest address that: “It is good to see that

IEC has done what we thought a decade ago: jobless graduates or postgraduates making their own

financial settlements”. He said that he was glad to see that IEC, MUET has contributed to the society by

making a chunk able to earn and feed them or those who had been associated with them. He said that if

such passion of the youth keeps continued then socioeconomic conditions will improve. He wished a

success to HEC program beneficiaries and SSBC 2nd cohort winners. He asked them to work for their

personal development with a will to do for a betterment of the society.

After chief guest address of the Vice Chancellor, two of the beneficiaries were invited to share their

experience regarding the program. Mr. Mohammad Asif and MS. Ayesha. Mr.Asif said that he was very

much thankful to IEC, MUET, and HEC for the job skills development program for the jobless youth. He

said that after completing soft skills development classes, he successfully learned the art of CV making,

resume development, and covering letter writing. And due to this development, he professionally

applied in the advertisement for the vacant position of Teaching Assistant at the Department of Civil

Engineering, MUET, Jamshoro and he successfully qualified the test & interview and got the job.

Ms. Ayesha shared that before enrolling in the program she was not able to write her

professional CV or covering letter. Not only this, but her English language speaking and writing

skills were also weak along with computer skills. But after attending the classes, she

successfully learned how to write a professional CV or resume, convincing covering letter in

English, and maximum beneficial use of MS office suite. She thanked IEC, MUET, HEC, resource

persons, and Manager IEC for bringing such a good program for them.

Mr. Tahir Mehmood Chaudhry, guest of honor, thanked Manager IEC, Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice

Chancellor, and greeted all the participants. He said that he did not know that MUET had a huge

treasure of the talent in her faculty, officers, and students. The projects and youth talent he

was seeing in the ceremony were of high caliber and full of social benefit covered with

enthusiasm. He asked the vice chancellor and Manager IEC to work in collaboration with his

organization to scale up their efforts for strengthening entrepreneurship culture in the

university and Jamshoro. He offered that he would ask head of Sohrab Bicycle Company to

donate 200 bicycles to MUET, Jamshoro. “MUET has a potential mix of talents and skills, I would

like to build networks between IEC, MUET, and industry”, he added.

The graduation ceremony was concluded with the distribution of certificates and cheque

among the beneficiaries of HEC job skill development program and SSBC 2nd cohort winners.

HEC Beneficiaries Receiving the Certificates

SSBC 2nd Cohort Beneficiaries Receiving their Cheque

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Success Stories

“Before attending HEC training, I was lacking in communication skills. I used to get and nervous during interviews and was unable to present myself. But after attending this training, my skills were gradually improved. Tutors used to involve us while teaching, encouragement to express our ideas and knowledge before audience break my hesitation and take out me from the fear. I gained confidence gradually and performed well in different interviews and finally got job in High Court.” Mir Hassan

“During my university education, I was only focused on my field and cannot improve my soft skills. I was strongly lacking in computer and IT skills. I was once forced to quit job during in one of the organization. But after attending HEC training, my computer skills were getting improved. I was new to MS office but gradually and steadily with the help of teachers I was getting command over MS office. Hand on practice on computer and assignments build my confidence and I again started to apply for job in social sector and finally got job as field coordinator for which computer skill was necessary.” Aamir Ali

“I have obtained my degree in Sociology but I was lacking in IT skills and computer skills. During my first test, I was asked to make a table in excel by searching through internet but due to time factor I was unable to complete task at time and was not selected. Company asked me to improve my IT skill and can apply in next turn. Though I was using used to with computer but when tasks were getting complex I was unable to perform it in efficient and effective way. Through this training, I got basic principles how to get my skills improved. The hand on training on different computer applications, class assignments, home works and individual attention of tutors support me a lot to gain much and more in such a short duration of time. Currently I am working in NGO as PA to GM and find it easy to handle computer related task.” Ayesha Memon

“I have done by bachelors in Computer science. I have been searching job for last two years at software houses of Hyderabad. I have never think of entrepreneurship as an alternate option to earn income. When I go through the courses, I came to know about different aspects to start business, how to arrange finance, importance of research in start of the business and use of social media to market any business. Through assignment of tutors it was revealed that there are several small businesses in my hometown who want to manage their businesses through simple computer APPs, automated excel sheets. I took few assignments from my hometown through

my brother and got success which build my confidence. Currently I along with my brother are earning a good income from this business.” Yusra Taj

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“My family professional background is business. I got from the university was purely related to only sociology and little attention was paid on soft skills and computer skills. After graduation, I tried for job but did not get it. My father told me and my brother to start a new business through his support till I get job. After starting business, I was planning to increase use of computer in managing inventory and accounts but I was lacking in both of fields. Apparently I noticed HEC training in newspaper. I applied and got selected in it. Through this training, got hand on experience on computer skills particularly MS office and learn how to make account through the subjects “Small Business Organizational Skills and Entrepreneurship”. After attending this training, I applied learned knowledge on my business and currently I am earning a good income from it and have employed two other persons.” Zeeshan Ali

“After having my bachelor’s degree, I got married and decided to be dedicated to my family. My husband was running boys hostel at Jamshoro and used to ask me to support him to open another hostel for girl students but I was reluctant to do so as my point of view was to have job after 16-years of education. My husband saw the advertisement of HEC training and insisted me to apply for training “Small Business Startups”. I applied and got selected in the training. During the training the tutors let us know the shift in policy of state from job seeking to job creation through entrepreneurship, launch of incubation centers nationwide. Besides this courses were very attractive and motivated me have home based business. After 02 months

of training, I finally decided to start a new business of female student hostel and currently I am running a hostel at Jamshoro and employed 02 persons at there.” Aifar Arooba

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Annexure-A

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Annexure-B

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Annexure-C