|
'From Early
Childhood Development to Human Development: Integrating Perspectives'
was the theme of the first Graduate Seminar in Human Development
organised recently by Aga Khan University, Karachi. Speakers described
it as the first step towards a proposed work-linked graduate programme
focusing on integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) as an entry
point for Human Development, not just in
Pakistan
but the
region as a whole.
 |
|
Working
together for ECD. |
"This is a significant initiative
undertaken by AKU's Human Development Programme (HDP), which aims primarily
at developing a cadre of national and regional Early Childhood Development leaders
through higher education opportunities and dissemination of research," said
Dr Jim Irvine, Planning Coordinator, HDP, AKU.
The seminar attracted ECD
professionals and managers from various academic and professional backgrounds
such as medicine, nursing, education and community development, as well as from
NGOs, government and donor agencies. Participants and facilitators included
experts from
Pakistan
,
Afghanistan
,
Australia
,
Canada
,
China
,
Kenya
,
New Zealand
and
USA
.
The closing ceremony was
attended, amongst others, by Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman, AKU
Board of Trustees; Aziz Currimbhoy, Member, AKU Board of Trustees; Douglas Rohn,
Consul General of the United States; and Dr Randy Hatfield, Programme Manager
Education, Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan (AKF,P).
Speaking on behalf of AKU
Board of Trustees, Ambassador Dehlavi appreciated the generous support of USAID,
UNICEF and AKF, and reiterated the University's ongoing commitment to its HDP.
Stating that the programme "has the potential to have a significant impact on
the developing world," he encouraged participants to share learnings from the
seminar with families and communities in an effective and sustainable way.
In his address, Douglas
Rohn emphasised USAID's commitment to human development in
Pakistan
,
with a focus on the early years. Mr Rohn thanked AKF,P and other partners for
supporting the USAID-sponsored 'Releasing Confidence and Creativity: Building
Strong Foundations for Early Learning in
Pakistan
' (RCC) Project. He also appreciated
AKU's role in organising the seminar, terming the event an initial step towards
asserting the importance of ECD initiatives in developing countries such as
Pakistan
.
Dr Randy Hatfield of AKF,P
thanked the University and other partners for their commitment to the RCC project
and to ECD in
Pakistan
.
Expressing their appreciation of this landmark seminar, participants described
it as an important turning point in their thinking about early childhood development.
|
