Promoting academic growth: SBBWU launches Women Empowerment Mentorship Programme

PESHAWAR: Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar (SBBWU) has initiated the Women Empowerment Mentorship Programme to support female professionals in academia and research.

A press release said the first mentoring session entitled “Mentoring in Higher Education” for the “Women Empowerment and Mentoring Programme” by the National Academy of Higher Education (Higher Education Commission) was conducted on Wednesday under the leadership of SBBWU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Safia Ahmed.

Dr Farhat Amin, associate professor & focal person for the programme at SBBWU, gave the orientation and highlighted the programme’s objectives to cultivate a supportive community for women employees within HEIs and to develop leadership skills.

The session was attended by Mentorship Programme Committee (MPC) members, mentors, and those enrolled in the programme at SBBWU. Dr Farhat Amin elaborated on the programme’s structure and key components.

The programme consists of five modules designed to provide structured mentorship and guidance to women in academic fields.

Prof Dr Safia Ahmad conducted the first module on “Mentoring in Higher Education,” dwelling on the impact of mentorship on career development and highlighted the importance of mentoring, its objectives and its benefits in Higher Education.

She presided over the session and mentored the young female faculty and staff about academic growth, career advancement and work-life balance which was crucial for their well-being.The vice-chancellor highlighted the coping strategies and techniques to manage stress and build resilience. She also suggested how the women faculty could manage their workload and achieve a better balance between work and personal life.

She focused on the roles of mentors in higher education, emphasizing the crucial role of positive thinking in personal development, to enhance resilience and time management skills and to foster a positive mindset and openness to learning.