Lahore: Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) has successfully concluded the third cohort of the Women Empowerment and Mentoring Programme (WEMP), an initiative by the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) under the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. The program aims to empower female faculty members through mentoring, leadership development, and professional capacity building.
According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director of NAHE, attended the online closing ceremony of WEMP. She emphasized the need to expand the mentoring culture through the nationwide Mentoring Programme for Universities (MPU). Dr. Malik praised LCWU for institutionalizing mentoring practices and recognized WEMP as a model initiative for women’s empowerment in Pakistan’s higher education sector. She specifically acknowledged the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi for effectively implementing the program.
Dr. Malik expressed her expectations for LCWU to implement the MPU with dedication, noting the MPU’s potential to extend the WEMP’s reach from 18 universities to all public and private higher education institutions in Pakistan. She highlighted the MPU as a gender-inclusive initiative crucial for strengthening the mentoring culture nationally.
Vice Chancellor LCWU Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi, in her remarks, emphasized the university’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership and professional excellence in higher education. She acknowledged the essential contributions of mentors, mentees, and program organizers in building a robust mentoring culture at LCWU.
Dr. Tahira Kalsoom, Secretary WEMP, presented a comprehensive report of the third cohort, detailing key achievements such as structured mentoring engagements, professional development workshops, leadership training, and reflective learning practices. The report highlighted the program’s impact on enhancing participants’ academic confidence, communication skills, and leadership competency, as well as fostering strong mentor-mentee relationships and collaborative learning among faculty.
The WEMP has established itself as a vital platform for developing female academic leaders, reinforcing the faculty mentoring culture, and boosting professional confidence and leadership skills. The success of its third cohort demonstrates LCWU’s commitment to empowering women educators and preparing future academic leaders for meaningful contributions to both national and global higher education landscapes. The closing ceremony underscored the shared commitment of the HEC and LCWU to promoting inclusive leadership, professional growth, and sustainable mentoring practices across the sector.