Webinar, “Skills Or Degrees: What Is More Important?”

On 22nd July 2020, THE PLATFORM by CGSS, Islamabad organized a webinar on, “Skills or Degrees: What Is More Important?” to discuss the importance of skills and degrees, their comparative analysis, and the role of educational institutes in producing skill human resource.
Ms. Tariq Khattak, Member Board of Experts, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), commenced the webinar and stated that skills and degrees both are important but to achieve excellence, faith, discipline, and self-devotion is important and with these, there is nothing you can not achieve.
Brigadier Akhtar Nawaz Janjua, Senior Member Board of Advisors, CGSS discussed that Pakistan is blessed with skillful individuals but skills and education go hand in hand. Our Educational Institutions must focus on vocational training to better equip our youth so that they can contribute positively to society. He also advised the students to be more objective and question everything they learn.
Dr. Shaheena Waheed, CEO, Planet PK (PVT.) Ltd stressed the importance of education and stated that skills are necessary but education is the support system that gives you awareness and the mindset to use your skills effectively. She further commented that students must keep education as their priority and adopt skills and excel in their careers.
Professor Zia Obaid, Assistant Professor, Institute of Management Studies, University of Peshawar stated that along with the regular degrees, educational institutes must also focus on skill-based training and short courses. He also highlighted the need for a renewed holistic approach towards education. He further added that even though skills and degrees are both equally important but students must also have the passion to achieve their goals.
Mr. Muhammad Talha, Head of Recruitment & Reward, HUBCO mentioned that placement officers in universities should focus on the skills required by the market and corporations in the current era. He further added that Our educational institutions must update their curriculum according to the changing trends. Moreover, he mentioned that in Pakistan many organizations are only focusing on the degree holders but there is no development in a society which means the focus needs to shift to the skills.
The session was attended by 30 participants from diverse backgrounds and was moderated by Ms. Palwasha Nawaz, Project Executive, THE PLATFORM (by CGSS), Islamabad.