130 SMIU Students Earn Google Career Certificates

Expanding Opportunities Through Digital Skills

A significant event took place at the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Auditorium of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), where a certificate distribution ceremony was held for the Google Career Certificate Program. This initiative, supported by the Government of Sindh, Google, Google for Education, and Tech Valley Pakistan, marked an important milestone in the digital education journey of students across the province.

Out of 300 students who successfully completed the program, 130 were present to receive their Google Career Certificates from Paul Hutchings, Regional Head of Greater Asia for Google for Education. The ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Noor Ahmed Samo, Secretary Information, Science and Technology of Sindh, Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai, Vice Chancellor of SMIU, and other key stakeholders from the technology and education sectors.

A Vision for Digital Empowerment

Noor Ahmed Samo, the I.T. Secretary, emphasized the importance of digital skills in shaping the future of students. He highlighted that 30,000 students from 30 public sector universities in Sindh have been offered Google scholarships with the support of the Sindh government. According to him, the future of students lies in acquiring the latest technological skills, which will enable them to compete globally.

Samo also mentioned the vision of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who aims to equip the youth of the province with cutting-edge technologies so they can earn through international markets using their digital skills. He further noted that Google would integrate content created by students into its job portal, creating a direct link between education and employment opportunities.

He praised SMIU as one of the most prestigious institutions in the region, noting that it is often referred to as the "university of leaders" due to its historical significance. Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, studied here, reinforcing its legacy. As such, the Sindh government has prioritized SMIU's development, ensuring that students benefit from quality education and industry-relevant training.

Commitment to Quality and Industry Relevance

Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai, Vice Chancellor of SMIU, commended the efforts of Noor Ahmed Samo for providing scholarship opportunities to students, which are equipping them with essential digital skills. He also recognized Google’s commitment to supporting SMIU students through these programs.

Dr. Sahrai stressed the university’s focus on both quality education and practical skills, emphasizing the need for young generations to adapt to the information technology era. He said that the Chief Minister of Sindh personally took interest in this project, aiming to provide students with knowledge that would help them enter the global job market.

Additionally, he acknowledged the contributions of Syed Azeem Inam and Mr. Basit Hassan from SMIU, who played a vital role in the success of the program.

Collaborative Efforts for Future Success

Paul Hutchings, representing Google for Education, spoke about the importance of the scholarships and noted that 30,000 scholarships had been provided to students in Sindh. He congratulated the students of SMIU who participated in the program and expressed appreciation for the collaboration between the Sindh government and SMIU.

Umar Farooq, CEO of Tech Valley Pakistan, pointed out that there is a growing gap between academia and industry, and initiatives like this are bridging that divide. He emphasized the need for such partnerships to ensure that students are well-prepared for the job market.

The event brought together a wide range of participants, including Timothy Paolini, Special Initiatives Head, APAC Google for Education; Dr. Tauha Hussain, Vice Chancellor of Mehran University of Science and Technology; IT experts, government officials, SMIU deans, faculty members, and students.

This ceremony not only celebrated the achievements of the students but also underscored the collective effort of various stakeholders in preparing the next generation for a digitally driven world.