Ahsan Iqbal arrives Berlin for ASEM Conference
By Madeline Hersiegar 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent

BERLIN (Germany): The Federal Minister for Education Professor Ahsan Iqbal arrived here as leader of Pakistani delegation for Asia and Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference of Ministers for Education.

The main theme of the Conference is “Education and Training for Tomorrow: Common Perspectives in Asia and Europe”.

Delegations from 37 countries of Asia and Europe European Union and Asia Europe Education Foundation are attending this Conference.

The Education Ministers from 25 countries of Asia and Europe including United Kingdom, Austria, France, Germany, Japan, China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nederland, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have arrived in Berlin to lead their respective delegations for this Conference.

The Conference will also focus on bringing together education and the labour market to enhance employability and lifelong learning in the member states.

Presently around 300 Pakistani students are studying in Germany pursuing their PhD degrees in various fields.

This Conference will provide an opportunity to the Minister for Education to further enhance cooperation in the field of education with major countries of Europe and Asia.

He will also meet with Ministers of Education of Major European and Asian countries to discuss matters relating to strengthening of cooperation in education and research.

The Minister is scheduled to visit some prominent Universities and Research Institutes in Berlin. He will also attend a Conference of the Ministers of education and Cultural Affairs of German Lander (States) in Bonn organized by German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

He will visit the German Ministry of Education where he will be briefed about the German School System, Infotechnology, ICT in school, Education and Curriculum development and Inter- State coordination.

He will also visit Federal Institute for Vocational Training, Bonn and review special presentation of German Technical and Vocational Education System.

The Minister is assisted by Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in Berlin.●