An opinion was published in the Dawn newspaper titled “Undergraduate focus,” in which the author argues that the undergraduate youth between 18-23 years are at an important stage of their life, which the author considers as years for the formation and maturing of individuals. This stage involves thinking and looking hard at how they spend their life doing, and gaining a broader understanding of whatever they want to study. The author emphasises the need to bring quality undergraduate education, which leads the nation towards progress. These young students are the asset of the nation, and their contributions are fundamental to the nation’s peace and prosperity.
The TFP campus leader program is a six-month unique experience for undergraduate students to join and support the movement for educational equity in Pakistan
The dream and message of the author is to see an undergraduate education of solid quality, and based upon experience while working as Campus Leader, Teach for Pakistan (TFP) at Quaid e Azam University Islamabad, I wholeheartedly acknowledge the model of student development program under the flagship “Campus Leader” by Teach for Pakistan for undergraduates only. The TFP campus leader program is a six-month unique experience for undergraduate students to join and support the movement for educational equity in Pakistan that enables the new generation of Pakistan to become loving, thinking and engaged citizens.
The TFP campus leaders operate primarily in two domains. Firstly, to strive and actively work to address educational inequity in the society
The TFP campus leaders operate primarily in two domains. Firstly, to strive and actively work to address educational inequity in the society. This domain includes taking responsibility by the campus leader to bring change. The building and shaping of the new leaders depends upon who is enlightening and empowering their thoughts and visions to take responsibility and become a leader of the society. This domain focuses on the education advocacy campaign on campus to develop clarity of thought on education inequity in Pakistan and shape leaders to lead the path towards education equity.
The campus-wide education advocacy campaigns require a thorough examination of a suitable schedule for the campaign while engaging with university stakeholders
The campaign features igniting dialogues, open discussions, info booths, etc. Secondly, to help the TFP recruitment team in targeting highly potential and dedicated final-year undergraduates for the TFP fellowship program. Both domains require dedication and professionalism in Camus leaders to run a campus-wide education advocacy program. The campus-wide education advocacy campaigns require a thorough examination of a suitable schedule for the campaign while engaging with university stakeholders that including key faculty allies, the Director of Student Affairs, and different academic and non-academic societies in the university and more importantly, extraordinary efforts and commitment is required by the campus leader to take these stockholders on board under stipulated time as there are deadlines set for advocacy campaigns.
TFP campus leader training helped to make these ideas clear and gave a broader image and understanding of how the system is functioning, and why it is not making satisfactory progress that everyone dreams of
The important aspect of the student leadership program “Campus leader” is the self-realisation of the fundamental systemic faults, and what contribution a campus leader could make in fixing those fault lines. This whole approach underscores the making of an undergraduate a responsible, engaged, thoughtful and visionary individual who believes that this country is ours and we have to fix. The Student leadership training that TFP provides to its campus leaders shapes their thoughts, actions and makes their life purposeful with solid aims and directions. As TFP Campus leader, my ideas and thoughts were based mostly on a theoretical basis, which I had studied in books and watched in movies and series. TFP campus leader training helped to make these ideas clear and gave a broader image and understanding of how the system is functioning, and why it is not making satisfactory progress that everyone dreams of. The answers to these questions gradually unveiled.
With discipline and dedication, the campus leaders at QAU, achieved a milestone of inspiring undergraduates to be fellows at TFP to make a strong united voice for change and hope. This nation and system as a whole essentially needs to instil hope and vision that can turn the fate of the nation and change its course to become a single, dedicated, resilient and progressive nation.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
