LAHORE: (Thursday, May 22, 2025): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali has said that to create a balanced society, it is necessary to promote science, arts, fine arts and skill-based subjects along with technology. He was addressing the closing ceremony of the three-day 12th International Conference (ICORE), organized by the Punjab University Institute of Education and Research at Waheed Shaheed Hall here on Thursday. On this occasion, PU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Kohat University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Naseer uddin, Chief Operating Officer TEVTA Shahid Zaman Lak, Director IER Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, Conference Secretary Prof Dr Muhammad Shahid Farooq, educationists, researchers, teachers and a large number of students were present.

In his address, PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali said that university teachers should play their role in producing confident and prepared graduates in every field. He said that in the recent Pakistan-India war, Pakistani media showed the truth to the world by showing responsibility, while Indian media showed sheer negligence. He said that in the present era, it is very important for teachers to be aware of modern technology. He said that global warming is increasing, climate change is taking place, the world is changing rapidly, and the universities and institutions would have to play role to combat these challenges. He said that the subject of artificial intelligence should be introduced at the school level. He said that our education system is also transforming, for which teachers of educational and research institutions have to play a key role. He congratulated the organizers for organizing an excellent conference. Dr Khalid Mahmood said that Pakistan defeated India on two fronts, one in the field of machinery and the other in the field of information. He said that the enemy tried his best to demoralize the Pakistani nation by spreading false news and misinformation, but failed and everyone came together to expose the false narrative in front of the world. He said that if we want to produce good engineers, doctors, pilots and scientists in the country, we need to invest more in education. Shahid Zaman Lak said that change is coming in China through public-private partnership. He said that vocational education is being promoted all over the world. He said that we also need to take more steps to make our graduates skilled. Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry thanked Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali for his cooperation in organizing the successful conference. He said that the institution will continue to play its role in promoting the teacher training program. He said that balanced societies are beautiful, in which the role of teachers is important. He said that the PU IER will continue to organize positive activities in the future as well. The conference recommended that Higher education institutions should prioritize integrating employability skills and technology proficiency into curricula through interdisciplinary projects, workshops, and industry partnerships to better prepare university students for the job market. Policymakers and educators may embrace a forward-thinking approach that balances technological integration with human-centered learning, thereby preparing learners to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. There is a need for robust ethical policy frameworks for equitable AI access and use. Stakeholders must balance innovation with accountability to harness AI’s benefits while mitigating the harm. More innovative, student-centered, collaborative, and experiential approaches and pedagogies may be integrated into a variety of curricula to develop entrepreneurial skills for economic growth in Pakistan. Universal Design of Learning (UDL 3.0) may be implemented.