Dr Ruhi Khalid represented BNU in the 12th Asia- Pacific Regional Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Dr. Ruhi Khalid - the Director, Institute of Psychology - represented Beaconhouse National University Lahore in the 12^th Asia- Pacific Regional Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and presented a paper on “Experiences of caregivers of Alzheimer’s in Pakistan”. The conference was held from 7^th – 10^th November 2009 at Avari Hotel, Lahore. The faculty as well as students from Institute of Psychology attended the conference.

Dr. Khalid’s paper was drawn from three researches that she had carried out over a period of one year. The basic notion of all three of the researches was that caring for Alzheimer’s older patients is a relatively more stressful experience than caring for physically frail older adults because of the dementia related shifts in personality. Dr. Khalid maintained that most of the research on care givers has used Western theoretical models and has been conducted in Western societies; however, in order to better assist the care giving families in Pakistan, it would be pertinent to explore the varying cultural patterns of care giving of Alzheimer’s patients in our society.

The first study aimed to identify the family caregivers for Alzheimer patients, and what they considered to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The second study explored the primary and secondary stressors of the caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients and their coping strategies; while the third study was aimed to explore the role of medical practitioners in the treatment and management of Alzheimer’s. A number of suggestions for the practitioners were also given at the end.

In the end Dr. Khalid maintained that there is a need to spread awareness of the problem in the general public as it will lead to acceptance of Alzheimer’s as an illness and not as some spiritual problem or a natural outcome of old age. She emphasized the need for early diagnoses and better support services for Alzheimer’s patients in Pakistan. She was the only speaker who also emphasized the role of cultural and religious beliefs in coping with caregiver stress.

The need for further indigenous research in this area was highlighted and the participants appreciated the unique approach of the research.

Dr Ruhi Khalid represented BNU in the annual conference of British Psychological Society, Psychology of Women Section (POWS)

Dr. Ruhi Khalid - the Director, Institute of Psychology - represented Beaconhouse National University Lahore in the annual conference of British Psychological Society, Psychology of Women Section (POWS). The conference was held from 15th to 17th July 2009 at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK, and its theme was Feminisms & Professions.

Dr. Khalid presented two papers in this conference that were based on her research work. The first paper was titled "Manifestation and prevalence of menopausal symptoms: An Asian sample" and was presented on 15th July. The need for further indigenous research in this area was highlighted and the participants appreciated the unique approach of the research.

The second paper titled "Returned migration: changes in perception of gender roles in Pakistani women" was presented on 16th July 2009. The implications of the research findings for an in depth understanding of psychological processes underlying acculturation were emphasized.

Dr. Hafiz A. Pasha, an eminent personality, has joined BNU as Dean of Department of Economics

Dr. Hafiz A. Pasha has recently joined Beaconhouse National University (BNU) as Dean of Department of Economics.

Dr. Hafiz A. Pasha has a M.A from Cambridge University, England and a PhD. from Stanford University, USA. Dr. Pasha has served till recently as a United Nations Assistant Secretary General and United Nations Development Program Assistant Administration and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.

Earlier he held a number of important public appointments in Pakistan including that of Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, with the status of a Federal Minister, Advisor to the Prime Minister/ Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Educational Minister and Commerce Minister in three governments. He has been the Chairman member of a large number of tasks forces, commissions and committees.

Dr. Pasha has had a long and distinguished academic career, having served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi, Dean and Director of Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, and Research Professor and Director of the Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi. He has published extensively in the fields of public finance, urban and regional economics, governance, social development, and poverty. He was awarded in 2005 the Congressional Medal of Achievement by the Philippines Parliament for his work in the area of poverty.

Profile of Dr. Mehdi Hassan

Ms. Sabahat Tatari spoke in ASIA TEFL 2009

ASIA TEFL 2009: Featured presentation

Language assessment in Asia: Local, regional or global? Aligning Teaching and Testing Practices in Pakistan

Sabahat K. Tatari is Head, Department of Teacher Education, School of Education Beaconhouse National University. She teaches on the postgraduate teacher training programmes including Teaching English as a Second Language, Educational Leadership and Management and Education. She has done her Masters in English Language Teaching and Multimedia from University of Warwick, UK and Masters in English Literature from University of Punjab Pakistan. She has also completed a specialized course in testing from Lancaster University.

Her talk was on the significance of utilizing the tool of action research for enhancing the faculties of critical thinking, analysis and reflection that could consequently improve all the aspects of teaching methodology especially the formative and summative assessment techniques. The presented paper discussed that in a very few institutions of Pakistan, teacher training programmes are providing trainees such opportunities and exposure. Therefore the presentation included examples of action research projects with reference to testing and innovative assessment strategies successfully implemented by some of the Pakistani teachers teaching primary and secondary classes in public and private sectors. The focus was also on the limitations and constraints faced by theses trainees in their respective workplaces.

Ms Sabahat’s paper was titled as “Transition from Traditional to Innovative Assessment Techniques”. This paper introduced the audience to the classroom tasks prepared by the postgraduate teacher trainees for the course on ‘Assessment in Education’. These tasks are developed keeping in view the theoretical aspects of curriculum development, methodology and material development. The prime focus is on the innovative assessment techniques that could help to enhance cognitive abilities within the respective contextual frameworks. The paper was primarily for the Asian ELT teachers.

Sakunthala Galanga, a promising SLA student

BNU was just one year old when I got the admission under The South Asia Foundation, Madanjeet Singh Scholarship from Sri Lanka. I enrolled into the School of Liberal Arts as the first foreign student, attending care and love from the Dean, the faculty and my class fellows, who made me, feel Lahore as a home.

SLA is where I found answers to most of the questions I was passionate about, regarding film, performance art, people, and education in general. School of Liberal Arts is known for long intervals in between teaching. That’s what made me more independent to study my surroundings and people. I got to watch a number of films and theater, and spend valuable time in the library.

My very first year was spent learning communication skills, language, and most importantly creative writing. I learnt a great deal from the creative writing and communication skills courses offered by my department. And also, the various workshops conducted by different professionals regarding Acting and TV and Film production.

I’m very grateful to my Dean Prof. Navid Shazhad, who guides me and supports me in countless ways. She has been with me in all my falls and failures, especially at the time of Tsunami which affected my family and also the rest of terrible losses in my family.

I’m lucky to have met Hon. Shyam Benegal and to be selected to assist in his upcoming epic film on Buddha. I am looking forward to perform good work in his team

I was very proud to represent my country in BNU when I first came, and now I’m very proud to represent BNU, wherever I go.