Message from the Dean
We welcome you all to the Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education (SOE) at LUMS. The School was founded as a realisation of Syed Babar Ali’s vision to bring about transformational change to education in Pakistan. This was to be achieved by drawing in talented young people who were ready to reflect thoughtfully on educational problems, redefine practices for quality education, and reimagine an education reform agenda for Pakistan. The aim of the School was to develop leaders in education who could influence policy and practice through evidence-based decision making.
SOE took off in 2018 with an MPhil Educational Leadership and Management (ELM) programme and two courses at the undergraduate level. A small cohort of 47 students, seven faculty members, and two teaching fellows formed the initial group of people at SOE. Today, five years later, we have grown into a community of 64 enrolled graduates and 269 alumni. We offer 34 to 36 undergraduate courses annually and four minors at the undergraduate level: Minor in Education, Minor in Education with Policy, Politics and Governance, Minor in Education with Curriculum and Instruction, and Minor in Inclusive Education. Our undergraduate student enrolment has steadily increased over the years and the number rose to 820 students in the last year. In line with LUMS' vision of learning without borders, two majors are being planned with other schools at the University.
During 2023-24, SOE’s stellar faculty and staff have continued to make concerted efforts to enrich the educational experience of their students. The Office of Marketing, Admissions and Student Affairs focused on the emotional well-being of the students through planned activities and ensured networking of the existing batch and the alumni. The Academics Office offered constant advice and remained engaged with the students throughout the year to facilitate their academic journey. SOE’s Office of Partnerships and Placements has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 75 organisations and school systems. In addition, our partnerships with government and non-government institutions have led to several meaningful collaborations that allow our students to work on real-life issues. As they rethink the identified problems, they offer innovative solutions that combine practice and research. The Practicum Showcase Conference 2024 was a huge success, where our students presented their final year projects, complimented with meaningful discussions with eminent stakeholders in education.
Our Professional Development and Policy Engagement Office contributes to extending the School’s impact through innovative approaches to organisational leadership and teaching. This office has raised significant revenues for SOE.
At SOE, we are committed to the values of social justice, equity, and inclusion. As we actively navigate challenging education scenarios and preconceived assumptions, we continue to work towards establishing inclusive educational environments for a socially just and peaceful society.
Looking forward to a great journey ahead!
Dr. Tayyaba Tamim
Dean,
Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education
Highlights
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EduTalks
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MoUs
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Practicum Projects
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Attendees at the 3rd Practicum Showcase Conference
Events
Scaling up the LEAPS Experiments: Information, Grants, and Targeted ...
Speaker: Dr. Tahir R.S. Andrabi, Inaugural Dean, SOE, LUMS
New Pathways to Math Learning
Speaker: Shad Moarif, Founder and Developer Karismath Program
How Could the Issue of Educating the Young Generation Out of School be Addressed?
Speaker: Dr. Abid Gill, Deputy Chief Advisor, Jica-Aqal
Designing Your Future: Applying Design Thinking to Navigate Post-Graduate Careers
Speaker: Dr. Roshni Rao, Executive Director, Doctoral and Postdoctoral, Career Design and Director, PHutures, Johns Hopkins University
Education, Conflict and Extremism
Speaker: Dr. Lynn Davies, Emeritus Professor, International Education, University of Birmingham
The Imperial Entanglements of ‘Education in Emergencies’: From Saving Souls ...
Speaker: Dr. Mario Novelli, Professor, The Political Economy of Education, University of Sussex
Power, Politics and Education: A Case Study of Afghanistan
Speaker: Dr. Dana Burde, Associate Professor and Director, International Education Programme, New York University, Steinhardt
Professional Education and Policy Engagements
The Professional Education and Policy Engagements Office (ProfEd) at SOE empowers educators across Pakistan to transform student learning through professional development programmes. These are tailored to meet the needs of educators through either off-the-shelf offerings or customised training programmes. This academic year, the School offered 40 programmes.
Summer Training Programmes
Summer training programmes, offered in-person as well as in hybrid format, facilitate access for education practitioners across Pakistan under two thematic areas: Teaching and Learning, and Leadership and Management. Over 600 educators from diverse backgrounds and school associations participated in the Summer Training Programmes 2023, creating valuable opportunities for peer learning, exchange of diverse ideas, and versatile networking.
Executive Leadership and Management Programmes
In a post-pandemic world, educational institutions continue to grapple with the learning losses that significantly impacted students during school closures. The ProfEd Office continues to empower school leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to shift cultures and instructional practices, ultimately leading to improvements in schools.
The Office delivers specialised leadership programmes under the themes of Education Leadership and Management, preparing school leaders to navigate change in a rapidly evolving school environment, develop and nurture effective teams, and transform teaching and learning within their own educational contexts.
Policy Engagements and Education Reforms
Through the Policy Engagements platform, SOE collaborates directly with government partners, private and social sector schools, as well as development partners to tackle critical educational challenges. Currently, the School is engaged in the following initiatives:
Education Fellows Pilot Project in Gilgit-Baltistan
SOE, in partnership with the Institute of Education Development, Aga Khan University, University of Karakoram, and Knowledge Platform, is working on implementing a PKR 70 million, three-year project focused on recruitment, selection, and capacity development of educators in teaching roles across public schools in Gilgit- Baltistan. The project aims to build the capacity of educators in cutting-edge teaching practices, particularly focusing on game-based learning techniques that will ensure that students are thoroughly engaged. The government agency directly involved in this project is the Department of Education and Special Education, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan.
National Institute of Teacher Excellence Project
In partnership with Orenda (Taleemabad), SOE has undertaken the National Institute of Teacher Excellence (NIETE) project to investigate the challenges, gaps, and demands related to professional development of educators working in the federal public schools. Through this PKR 10 million, year-long project, SOE and Taleemabad will design and develop teacher training programmes to address the needs of novice and in-service educators working at the primary school level in information and communications technology (ICT). The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training is directly involved with the working partners. Taleemabad, which translates to ‘city of education’, is an animated series which students can access on an application, via television, or in physical books. The series in aligned to the national curriculum in Pakistan.
Exam Ready Project
In partnership with TikTok and EdKasa, SOE is spearheading a PKR 6 million, year-long, digital learning programme which aims to facilitate online education and distance learning for high school students. This first-of-its-kind partnership will launch over 500 educational videos online, covering subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics, as well as study tips and exam hacks. SOE will provide guidance on teaching methodologies and cover the monitoring and evaluation of the project, whereas Edkasa, as the implementing partner, will develop and host all content. The School’s faculty will enhance the teaching efficacy of this innovative programme, while the learning and performance of each participant will also be evaluated by scholars from LUMS.
Partnerships
MoUs
This year, the Partnership Office signed MoUs with educational organisations across various sectors such as K-12 schools, public sector organisations, and non-profit organizations (NGOs). These include:
Aalam Bibi Trust
Founded in 2005 by Dr. Farah Deeba Akram, Aalam Bibi Trust is an independent, non-political, charitable organisation committed to aiding the underprivileged. Its mission is to offer education, food, and health services, empowering individuals to escape the cycle of poverty through comprehensive development in education, social well-being, and ethics. To this end, the organisation has launched several initiatives including free-of-cost formal education from pre-school to matriculation. It also provides free food and health care facilities, inclusive education programmes for differently-abled students, and facilitation services for its students to pursue higher education and vocational educational programmes. Through these initiatives, it has benefited more than 1,000 students over the past 18 years.
Punjab Education Foundation
The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), a public sector organisation, was established under the Punjab Education Foundation Act of 1991 as an autonomous statutory body to encourage and promote education on non-commercial/ non-profit basis. Their vision is to foster quality education through public-private partnerships in extending affordable education options to marginalised communities, thereby expanding educational access.
The organisation has successfully established partnerships in all 36 districts of the Punjab. PEF is presently catering to the educational needs of around 2.5 million students enrolled in 7,500 affiliated schools across Punjab.
LACAS School Network
Established in 1987, the LACAS School Network is a private school network, founded with the goal of revolutionising Pakistan’s educational landscape. The school currently has six campuses in different cities of Punjab. Their core mission revolves around fostering a safe, intellectually challenging, culturally sensitive, and inclusive learning atmosphere that enables all students to realise their utmost capabilities. The LACAS School Network places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities through avenues such as public speaking, performing arts, entrepreneurial endeavours, and scientific programmes, while also benefiting students from opportunities for global engagement through international trips and participation in national and international competitions.
Practicum Projects 2024
MPhil ELM (Regular)
- Redefining High-Cost Private School Education through Digital Literacy Transformation - Kingston College
- Analysing VET Pedagogy and Assessments: An Examination of Skill Discrepancies in the IT Sector - Punjab Skills Development Fund
- Development of an Arts Curriculum for Elementary Students - Nathuu
- Gap Identification for Digital Literacy Programme Improvement at a Women’s Empowerment Non-Profit Organisation - CIRCLE Women Association
- Unlocking Potential: Designing a Blueprint for Fostering Learner’s Agency - Beaconhouse School System
- Elevating Teacher Capacity: A Feasibility Plan for a Teacher Training Institute - Humaira Riaz School
- Improving Girls’ Education through Community Mobilisation: Exploring Perspectives and Experiences in Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan - Rupani Foundation
- Enhancement of Early Childhood Education Curriculum at an NGO-run Preschool for Underprivileged Children - The Little Art
- Empowering Young Minds: Designing a Creative and Dynamic Formative Assessment Framework which, Fosters Student Motivation, Engagement and Learning - Lahore Grammar School
- Fostering Cultural Awareness Through Art: Designing a Visual Art Curriculum for Grades 4-6 -Maktab
- ‘Are Textbooks Friends or Foes?’: Evaluating the Textbooks in Low-cost Schools in Pakistan - Taleemabad
- Insights into the Complex Relationships of Instructional Leadership, Learning Poverty, and Dropout: A Study from Punjab Public Schools - Punjab Monitoring and Implementation Unit
- Factors Inhibiting or Facilitating Participation in Non-Formal Education: Perceived by Mothers in a Slum Area of Lahore, Punjab - Independent Project
MPhil ELM (Weekend Track)
- Right to Education for All: A Comparative Study of Transgender Schools in Punjab - Punjab Monitoring and Implementation Unit
- Impact Assessment Design for the Pakistan Spelling Bee - Storykit
- Exploring the Connection Between Teacher Training and Student Achievement at a Local Medium-Cost School in Pakistan - The Educators
- Pedagogical Frameworks to Promote and Nurture Social and Emotional Learning of Students - Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust
- Training Needs Assessment of Teachers in Special Education Primary Classrooms - Aziz Jehan Begum Trust for the Blind
- Need Evaluation and Strategy Development for Reducing Dropout Rates at an NGO Operated School - Kawish Welfare Trust
- Assessing Programme Impact and Evaluation Models to Enhance Vocational Education Training Programmes - Alif Laila Book Bus Society
- Learning Outcomes of Competency-based Training Assessment Courses in Punjab - Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sector – TEVTA
- Students and Teachers' Perceptions of Online Learning – Akhuwat
Student Support
Placements
SOE students are being placed within well-renowned organisations such as the World Bank, The Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA), Teach the World Foundation, The Citizens Foundation, Cambridge University Press and Assessment, among several others.
Student-Focused Activities
- Orientations sessions were held for the incoming cohorts of both MPhil programmes.
- A de-stress activity was arranged for the MPhil ELM classes of 2024 and 2025.
- The eighth issue of the SOE Digest was published.
Promotional Activities
- A social media campaign for the MPhil ELM programme was launched from October to March, including livestreams engaging with potential canditates.
- In-person and online outreach sessions were held with University of Central Punjab campuses in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, as well as the Sukkur IBA University.