A three-day training workshop on "Quality Assurance" for administrative/non-teaching staff ended at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Thursday.

The workshop held with an aim to create awareness about the quality assurance and promoting quality culture at the educational institutions in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan under the Modern University Governance Program on the Indigenous On-campus Training (IOT).

Around 35 participants from the administrative staff of the university including those from adjoining/affiliated educational institutions were also participated in this 3-day workshop. 

Prof. Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor of the university, in his address said this is the 2^nd Quality Assurance workshop of its type that has been organized exclusively for the administrative staff of the university which will create quality culture for which we are struggling hard to create. He said that there was no comparison of this nation with any other nation of the world but the only thing we are lacking is "Quality". We need to address Quality in every walk of life and particularly in education, he added. He accentuate that the standards of Quality of higher education in Pakistan need to be improved to achieve the goals of competitiveness with the international standards. He further said, "There is no compromise on Quality and merit is the only criteria for our selection of new faculty for this university." He appreciated efforts of the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) at Arid Varsity and the HEC for their dynamic roles to enhance the quality of education and research in the University to meet the international standards. He also appreciated the collaboration and financial support of the HEC for conducting this high quality workshop. He urged the participants to adapt best practices, equip themselves with the quality tools and play their roles as mangers to take this institution to one of the best educational institutions of the world. He hoped that impact of this quality workshop will go far assuring the quality and promoting good governance at this esteemed institution. 

Earlier, Prof. Dr Riaz Ahmad, Director QEC applauded the effort and the support of the Vice Chancellor to promote the quality culture at the varsity. He highlighted the importance of Quality and Quality Assurance for the administration and academics in the higher educational institutions. He also spoke on the Quality as a multi-dimensional concept embracing all its (HE) functions and activities, and the ways culture of Quality can achieve excellence in the higher education.

Professor Dr. Yasin, the Convener of the Course and Shahbaz Ahmad Khan the Course Coordinator also addressed and welcome the Vice Chancellor. They highlighted the aims and objectives of organizing this workshop. They hoped that the all participants learned and benefited from the versatile and proven experiences of the speakers, professional trainers and consultants from the prestigious institutions.

During the 3 days of the workshop 9 sessions including presentations, lectures, activities and interactive sessions on Quality Assurance were conducted. The resource persons of the workshop were Farrukh Idrees (FAST) Zahid Iqbal (Ripha International University), Prof. Dr Riaz Ahmad (Director QEC-AAUR), Shahbaz Ahmad Khan (Deputy Registrar QEC-AAUR) and Prof.  Dr Abdul Saboor, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences.