Empowering Women in Robotics and AI
Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University (BNBWU), Sukkur, proudly hosted the 6th STEM AI Workshop under the Partnership in Equality (PIE) for UK-Pakistan Women in Robotics and AI. This two-day event, held on December 11-12, 2024, aimed to foster women’s development in the rapidly evolving fields of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The workshop was organized in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, UK, MCS, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad and BNBWU, Sukkar. The event commenced with a warm welcome by the Worthy Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Tahmina Managan, accompanied by Dr. Shahzad Nasim, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Information Science, and Technology, Dr. Zulfiqar Zardari, Chairperson of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies, and Engr. Atta Ullah Qureshi, Assistant Director of QEC.
The PIE team, led by Dr. Farkhanda Afzal, along with Dr. Alina Mirza and Ms. Uzma Ehsan, played a pivotal role in organizing this impactful two-day event. The workshops were designed to empower women by equipping them with essential skills in AI and robotics, emphasizing gender equality in technology-driven fields.
With over 120 enthusiastic participants, the workshops provided hands-on training sessions, fostering innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Students showcased remarkable engagement and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Vice Chancellor and the PIE team for creating this empowering platform.
Despite an 18-hour train journey from Islamabad to Sukkur, the PIE team’s dedication significantly impacted the participants, leaving a lasting impression. This initiative reinforces the commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for women in STEM disciplines, paving the way for their success in emerging technologies.
BNBWU Sukkur continues to lead in empowering women through transformative initiatives like these, marking a significant step forward in advancing gender equality in STEM education and careers. Notably, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tahmina Managan plays an active and visionary role in expanding opportunities for girls in interior Sindh. Her broad vision and unwavering dedication to improving girls’ education have garnered appreciation from the Eureka Robotics Centre and the PIE team from Cardiff Metropolitan University also. In recognition of her commitment to establishing a robotics centre at BNBWU, the Eureka Robotics Centre, under the PIE initiative, has placed Alpha Mini humanoid Robot and Arduino kit at the university, laying the groundwork for a promising future in robotics and AI for the region’s students.
