World leaders in education see a huge potential in demand for professionally trained teachers in Pakistan, as the education industry is expected to expand in the coming years. This will create a great demand for trained professionals who can deliver academic excellence for private and public sector schools.

The City School Group is one of Pakistan’s largest education networks with a presence in 49 cities and more than 150 campuses, and through its Centre for Educational Professional Development (CEPD) has trained over 5000 teachers within its network.

Canterbury Christ Church University started nearly 60 years ago as a teacher training college, answering the call for more trained teachers. It is now recognised globally for its teacher education and was awarded the Times Higher Education (THE) Award for International Impact in 2018 for its work on teacher education in Palestine.

The collaboration will lead to the launch of the Postgraduate Certificate International (PGCEi) with a commitment to empowering classroom practitioners and senior school leadership with diverse perspectives and experiences in research, policy and practice in education.

In an online launch ceremony marking the beginning of this historic partnership, the attendees included Mr Mike Nithavrianakis, His Excellency British Deputy High Commissioner Karachi, Mr Aurangzeb Firoz, Board of Directors, The City School Network, Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Canterbury Christ Church University.

British Deputy High Commissioner and UK Trade Director for Pakistan, Mike Nithavrianakis said: “Educational partnerships between Pakistan and the UK continue to go from strength to strength. This is another great example of how Pakistan’s ambitions can be aligned with UK expertise. We are delighted to see another UK University stepping into this exciting market with a strong partner.”

Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Simon Penney, said: “The partnership between the UK’s Canterbury Christ Church University and The City School in Pakistan is testament to the strong relationship between Pakistan and the UK in education. The UK is proud to support Pakistan’s bid to deliver quality teacher training programmes in the country and accelerate its transformation into a knowledge-based economy.”

Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “Canterbury Christ Church University enjoys an excellent reputation in its teacher education nationally and internationally. We are delighted to partner with The City School Network in bringing the PGCEi to Pakistan. Together we aim to provide all participating teachers with a unique opportunity to elevate their professional skills and encourage innovation in practice. Our sincere thanks to all those who have helped to develop this partnership and we look forward to a successful and rewarding collaboration.”

Expressing his delight over the great initiative, Mr Aurangzeb Firoz commented: “The City School Network is entering a new era, one that will redefine the educational sector of Pakistan. By establishing strong partnerships with global educational experts, we are determined to further our cause of excellence in education on all fronts.”