Islamabad/Lahore, Aug 15 /DNA/ – The closing ceremony of Cohort-I of the training program “Transforming Governance: Improving Public Service Performance and Integrity” for Assistant Directors of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) was held on Friday, the August 08, 2025 at the Civil Services Academy (CSA), Lahore. The five-day program, conducted from 4–8 August 2025, comprised 20 intensive sessions aimed at enhancing participants’ capabilities in governance, leadership, ethics, and service delivery.
Dr. Noor Amna Malik, Managing Director, National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), HEC, graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest. She commended CSA’s exemplary organization of the program and expressed satisfaction over the professional growth of HEC officers. Dr. Malik also announced the continuation of this collaboration through the signing of a memorandum with CSA to sustain and expand such capacity-building initiatives.
During the ceremony, Director General CSA, Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, and Director CSA, Dr. Syed Shabbir Zaidi, praised the dedication and active participation of HEC officers. A video highlighting the program’s activities and participant engagements was also showcased.
The training provided a blend of technical expertise and essential soft skills, covering areas such as Rules of Business, Efficiency and Discipline Proceedings, Project Management, and Higher Education Policy, alongside public dealing, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, communication skills, and stress management. Sessions were delivered by experienced faculty and domain experts through lectures, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, ensuring a balance between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
Participants enhanced their communication and public engagement skills through structured frameworks and audience-centric approaches, strengthened their leadership and decision-making abilities by focusing on vision, empathy, and adaptability, and improved project delivery using strategic planning tools and PMBOK principles tailored for public sector contexts. The program also placed strong emphasis on ethical and accountable governance practices, institutional and policy understanding, and personal effectiveness, including time management, stress management, and work–life balance. Cultural and professional etiquette training further refined the officers’ professional representation in formal and public settings.
The program concluded with participants gaining not only subject-specific expertise but also cross-cutting competencies essential for modern public service. The initiative reaffirmed the shared commitment of HEC and CSA to strengthening governance through ethical, skilled, and people-focused leadership.
