The University of Sindh on Monday concluded the National Outreach Programme for Faculty (NOPF) and the National Outreach Programme for Management (NOPM) with a joint closing ceremony held at the Senate Hall of the Vice-Chancellor Secretariat.

Managing Director of the National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad Dr Noor Amna Malik attended the ceremony as chief guest. She was received by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri at his office.

Earlier, Dr Malik held an interactive session with participants of the Management Officers Training Programme. The session described by participants as intellectually stimulating and candid revolved around institutional leadership, teamwork and personal growth.

Addressing the session, Dr Malik appreciated the university for successfully executing both programmes and commended the vice-chancellor’s leadership. She urged participants to align themselves with the university’s broader vision and act as ambassadors of professional excellence within their respective departments.

Emphasizing the importance of applying what they had learned, she said the real success of such initiatives lay in “cascading the knowledge” to colleagues and improving workplace practices.

She announced that participants would be considered for future international training opportunities and revealed that NAHE planned to launch a specialized training programme for heads of departments in the next phase.

Dr Malik underlined that academic and administrative staffs were not separate entities but integral parts of the same institutional framework. “We are one team, working towards a common purpose,” she said. She advised participants to adopt a courteous and empathetic communication style.

“Your communication should be in a soft tone,” she remarked, adding that respectful dialogue builds trust and strengthens institutional culture. She also noted that professionalism was reflected not only in competence but also in conduct and consistency.

Speaking about personal and professional development, she said growth required continuous self-reflection and a willingness to learn. She observed that in a competitive global environment, possessing one or two skills was no longer sufficient.

“You must equip yourself with multiple competencies to remain relevant and secure meaningful positions,” she said.

In his address, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri termed the programmes an unmatched opportunity for participants to recognise and harness their potential. He stressed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and cultivating a habit of lifelong learning.

Dr Marri said that institutions thrived when individuals were empowered and trusted with responsibility. He added that professional training should not be seen as a formality but as a pathway to institutional transformation.

He also emphasized that innovation; collaboration and accountability were essential pillars for taking the university forward.

He congratulated the participants and appreciated the efforts of Training Coordinator Prof Dr Arfana Mallah for successfully organizing the programmes.

Dr Mallah presented an overview of the initiatives, outlining their scope, modules and outcomes. She thanked NAHE for the grant that made the programmes possible and noted that participants had earned praise from resource persons, reflecting the strong human capital at the University of Sindh.

Vice-Chancellor SABS University of Art, Design & Heritage Professor Dr Arbella Bhutto also spoke on the occasion, while Dr Abdul Razaque Channa conducted the proceedings of the ceremony and was lauded by Dr Malik for his effective moderation.

On behalf of the participants, Nadeem Butt, Fauzia Junejo and others described the training as a reflective and transformative journey. They said the programme helped dispel misconceptions, improved interdepartmental understanding and strengthened their sense of belonging and institutional responsibility.

The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates among successful participants. Deans, directors, Registrar, NAHE’s deputy director and a large number of faculty and administrative officers attended the event.