English Works! Program 2022-2023 opens at NED University

Humanities Department, NEDUET was awarded the English Works! Program 2022-2023 by the Regional English Language Office (RELO) at the US Embassy, Islamabad. The program is a remarkable opportunity for intermediate and undergraduate students of underprivileged sections of society. This educational program aims to develop students’ professional English language skills and to equip them with employability and 21st-century skills.
There are currently 200 students enrolled in the program to complete a six-month (246 hours) study plan to prepare as a strong workforce. The opening ceremony of this program was recently held at the City Campus of NED University located in Saddar, Karachi. The ceremony was graced by the presence of honorary guests from the US Consulate and the senior administration of the NED University of Engineering & Technology.
Anastasia Kolivas, Public Diplomacy Officer, Vince Murphy, Public Affairs Officer, and Aisha Amanullah, English Programs Manager, at the US Consulate were received by the program implementer, Prof. Dr. Sajida Zaki, Chairperson, Humanities Department, and Prof Dr. Noman Ahmed (TI), Dean, Faculty of Information Science & Humanities.
The English Works! Students appreciated the program and demonstrated the skills they acquired during the first module through different acts. The ceremony formally began with the recitation of a few verses from the Holy Quran and its translation by the students followed by the welcome note from the program implementer, Prof. Dr. Sajida Zaki. She thanked the guests for their presence and stressed the importance of 21st-century skills and values for professional success and achievement.
The highlight of the ceremony was the interview titled, ‘EW Inspiration’ in which one of the specially-abled students of English Work was interviewed about his experience and the journey so far with the program. The interview was followed by students’ speeches focused on the overall impact of the program on their learning experience and skills development. The interview and the speeches both reflected the positive impact and role of the program on their personal and professional development.

The students also observed Black History Month at the ceremony. They prepared a presentation highlighting the history, significance, and message of this month. Subsequent to this, students presented a comparison between a good and a bad employment interview. This act focused on the Do’s and Don’ts of the job interview reinforcing the learning they had in their classrooms. The students also interacted with Ms. Anastasia Kolivas through a quiz. The students actively responded to the questions and enjoyed the interaction.
Afterward, Dr. Noman Ahmed (TI), Dean, of the Faculty of Information Science & Humanities, shared his thoughts on the program. He appreciated the efforts of the program administration and teachers while highlighting the significant role of communication and employability skills for the youth. Mr. Vince Murphy was invited to share his views on the ceremony, students, and the English Works program. In his speech, he appreciated the acts performed during the ceremony and expressed his delight at the confidence and fluency of the students. He also referred to the long history of the collaborative educational projects between Pakistan and the US along with the current statistics of students enrolled in programs like English Works! Across Sindh and Balochistan.
Dr. Noman Ahmed (TI) presented the souvenirs to the US Consulate officials. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by the Academic Coordinator, Dr. Najeeb us Saqlain, and a group photograph.