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Manzar Naqvi
KARACHI: The second Belt and Road Youth and Science Teacher Capacity Improvement Workshop has concluded, marking another milestone in China-Pakistan cooperation in education, science, and people-to-people connectivity.
Jointly organized by the Children & Youth Science Center (CYSC) of the China Association for Science and Technology and Pakistan’s Khwarizmi Science Society, the initiative brought together educators and students from both countries to explore emerging approaches in science education, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and project-based learning.
The program adopted a blended format, combining six online sessions held between November 26 and December 7 with a four-day offline workshop from December 10 to 14. More than 700 science teachers and young learners from China and Pakistan participated in the online component, while the in-person sessions enabled deeper engagement through hands-on activities, school visits, and expert-level discussions.
Centered on the themes “AI-Empowered Subject Teaching” and “Project-Based Learning,” the workshop highlighted how modern technologies can reshape classroom practices and better prepare students for future challenges. The Chinese delegation visited Crescent Model Higher Secondary School and the Lahore University of Management Sciences, where they observed STEM classes and explored advanced research laboratories, gaining insights into Pakistan’s evolving education landscape.
Themed seminars provided a platform for educators from both sides to exchange views on key issues such as energy development, engineering education, and curriculum innovation. Interactive sessions emerged as a major highlight, particularly the HAMSTER Interdisciplinary Challenge, where mixed teams of Chinese and Pakistani participants worked together on engineering and design tasks, blending creativity with scientific principles.
The workshop concluded with the Xuanyuan Green Energy Vehicle Challenge, an event that drew strong interest and enthusiasm. Under the guidance of Chinese teachers, Pakistani students successfully assembled a functional electric vehicle from scratch. The successful test run of the student-built clean energy vehicle was greeted with applause and was widely seen as a symbol of sustainable innovation and experiential learning.
Commenting on the initiative, Ma Bin, a member of the Chinese teacher delegation with extensive experience in Pakistan, said education forms the foundation of people-to-people connectivity, while science and technology act as engines of innovation. He expressed optimism that such collaborative efforts would continue, further strengthening educational ties and mutual understanding between China and Pakistan.
The workshop underscored the growing role of educational cooperation within the broader Belt and Road framework, emphasizing human development as a cornerstone of long-term bilateral partnership.
