Nasreen Mujahida Ahsan

Personal Profile Nasreen Mujahida Ahsan Career objectives To be (i) a lifelong learner, (ii) an active participant in the teaching-learning continuum, and (iii) be able to positively influence my learners. Competencies: Presentations (oral and written); Management/Organisation (Programmes, department); Report writing; articles; teaching materials design /adaptation; Test development; Teacher Training; Responsibilities: Management of Humanities Department; Observance of ISO 9000-2001 regulations pertinent to charge; Classroom teaching, course designing & evaluation, writing achievement & entry tests; Member: Board of Studies (Hum); Board of Faculty (Information Sciences & Humanities) Mistress of Ceremony for University Convocation Academic interest areas: Language testing, research, teacher training, materials development I. Academic qualifications 1. M.Phil (Education in App. Lings.) 2008 Iqra University, Karachi 2. M.Ed. TESOL. 1991-1992. School of Education.Leeds University, UK 3. M.A. (English) 1968-69 English Department. Dhaka University,(former E.Pak.) 4. BA Honours (English) 1965-68. English Dept. 5. Higher Secondary Certificate 1965. Holy Cross, College Dhaka Sec.Educ.Board 6. GCE O levels (Cambridge Univ.) Nov 1963. St Scholastica s Convent School, Chittagong, (former E Pakistan) Bangladesh * Currently enrolled as scholar PhD (Education in App. Lings) Hamdard University II. Other qualifications 1. Attended a 12-hour course on Using SPSS V-14 for quantitative-qualitative research, HIESS, Karachi, (Jan-Feb, 2009) 2. Attended 08-hour certificate course on Using SPSS for Research conducted by Aga Khan University Institute of Educational Development, Karachi. 3. Attended a course on Using EndNote conducted by Aga Khan University Research Office 4. 15-hour course on Using Windows, Internet. Jan.2000, First Women Bank Computer Literacy Centre, Karachi. 1

5. 03-day course on Web Authoring conducted by SDNPK/ UNDP for NGOs, July 1999, Karachi 6. 12-day course on Teacher as Researcher, conducted by Dr Kathy Bailey (Boston & MIT), under joint sponsorship of TESOL,USA & SPELT (Karachi) June- July 1999 7. Two-week course on Qualitative Research Methods conducted by Drs. I.Farah & M. Ahmed Ali of the Institute of Educational Development, Aga Khan University, Karachi, August 1998 8. Three-week course on Qualitative Research Methods for Baseline Studies conducted by Dr F. Shamim (Karachi University) & Dr A. Holliday (Canterbury University) under the joint sponsorship of The British Council and SPELT (Karachi) July 98 9. 23-week course on Advanced Teacher Training conducted by KELT Officers at the Aga Khan University, School of Nursing, Karachi, Nov 86- Mar 87 10. Three-week Summer School course, Explorations in ELT Methodology, British Council Summer School, Stirling University, August 1986 11. 22-week course on Communicative Language Teaching Methodology conducted by KELT Officers at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing, Karachi 85-86 12. One-week course on Teaching the Four Skills conducted under the joint sponsorship of SPELT (Karachi), the British Council, the Asia Foundation, the Pak American Cultural Centre (Karachi), April 1986 13. Two-week course on Teaching Phonology conducted at the British Council (Dubai) for teachers of the Pakistan Islamia Secondary School Dubai, Feb 1982 14. Two-week orientation course for government college teachers on Teaching in the Semester System, July 1977 III. Experience 1. Professor (promoted from Assoc. Prof), & Chairperson, Humanities Dept., NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. October 2007... (on-going) Additional: Organised the first-ever international ELT Seminar at the University (June 2008) 2. Associate Professor, Aga Khan University Centre of English Language, Karachi (Jan 10, 2003- Sep 07, 2007). Responsibilities: (i) Programme Coordinator for Short Courses/Workshops & Consultancy offered to external clients; (ii) teaching English to nursing students of Diploma, BSc & MSc programmes; (iii) teaching Report Writing & Business English on Employees Programme of Aga Khan University; (iv) teaching on the modules of Psycho-sociolinguistics; Grammar, Spoken English & Phonology; Materials Evaluation, Design & adaptation; Testing & Evaluation of the Advanced Diploma in TEFL Programme; (v) Chair & member of the Testing & Test Development Committee of the Centre; (vi) teaching Keats poetry to Medical College students on Elective English Programme; (vii) member Dean s Committee for Promotions; (viii) member Seminar Planning Committee 3. Associate Professor, Humanities Dept, N.E.D. University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi. (June 24, 1998-Jan 08, 2003) 2

4. Assistant professor, N.E.D. Univ. of Engg & Tech, Karachi (July 1988 June 1998) 5. English Language Teacher, Aga Khan University School of Nursing, Nov.85 June 1988. 6. English Language Teacher, Ministry of Education, Dubai Aug 1981 June 85 7. English Language Teacher, Pakistan Islamia Secondary School, Dubai, May 1978 June 1981 8. Lecture in English, Saudabad Govt. Girls College Karachi, Mar 77 July 78 9. Lecture in English, Liaquat Govt. College Karachi, Nov 74 Mar 77 10. Lecturer in English, Govt Girls College Chittagong, E. Pakistan Oct 70 Mar 71 III b Visiting Faculty 1. Hornby Regional School, Colombo (Feb 01-09, 2004) 2. Hornby Regional School, Lahore, July 2004 3. Mohammad Ali Jinnah University(Karachi Campus) Communication Skills course (Oct 2002-Jan 03) 4. English Dept, Karachi University, M. A. Linguistics (TESL Course) Jan- May 1999 5. Usman Institute of Technology, Hamdard University, Karachi,Jan-May 1995 (one semester) 6. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (CA Foundation Program) Nov 93- Feb 94 (one semester) 7. Institute of Cost & Managements Accountants of Pakistan, Aug Nov 1993 ( one semester) IV Professional affiliations /commitments 1. Member, Editorial Advisory Committee, AsiaTEFL Journal (2007-2008) 2. Member, R & P sub-committee, National Committee on English constituted under the ELT Reforms Project of Higher Education Commission (2004..) 3. Paper-setter /Examiner, Peshawer & Sindh Public Service Commission 4. Member, IATEFL (UK) 2003-2004 5. Member MATSDA (Materials Development Association, UK) 2004 6. Life Member / Resource Person for SPELT (Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers), Karachi chapter [1985 -...] 7. Finance Coordinator SPELT Karachi [1999 2002 ] 8. Associate Member, TESOL USA, 1998-1999 9. Teacher Training Resource Person for PACC, Karachi 1993-1995 10. Member IATEFL, 1992-93 11. Member Association of Language Learning (UK) 1992 1993 12. Member Teachers Resource Centre, Karachi 1987-88 3

V VI Conference presentations / attendance 1. Paper presented on A model of educational leadership and management for developing engineer and technocrats in a specific Asian context: West-inspired or indigenous? At the 1 st Exploring Leadership and Learning Theories in Asia (ELLTA) Conference held at Universiti Sains Malasia, Penang. Feb 14-16, 2011. 2. Paper presented on Perceptions of some engineering teachers & students about their use of English at the 1 st Fatima Jinnah women University (Rawalpindi) Conference on Rethinking Bilingualism: Perspectives, Challenges and Interpretations. May 7-8, 2010. 3. Paper presented on Braving the Wilds of Textbook Writing at the 26 th SPELT Conference, Islamabad, Oct 21-22, 2010. 4. Paper presented at 5 th Seminar at Aga Khan University Centre of English Language, Karachi on English in Multilingual Contexts (April 18-19, 2009) 5. Paper presented on Innovative Approach to High-stakes Testing: A case study from Pakistan, 34 th IAEA 2008 Conference, Robinson College, Cambridge University, (September 7-12, 2008) 6. Paper jointly presented on a collaborative research on student s writing skills at the 4 th Bi-Annual International Seminar, Aga Khan University Centre of English Language (June 2007), Karachi. 7. Paper presented on Tapestry Approach to Teaching & Learning at the 24 th SPELT International Conference (Sep 2007), Karachi. 8. Paper on Use of nursery rhymes for teaching Spoken English to trainee teachers: an experiment presented at the 39 th conference of the IATEFL_India in Chennai, February 2007 9. Participant at MATSDA Conference, Dublin, January 24& 25, 2004 10. Paper accepted for TAESIG Conference on Testing at Dubai, UAE, Dec 10-11, 2003. 11. Abstract accepted for IATEFL Conference 2004, UK. 12. All SPELT International conferences at Karachi, (Lahore, Multan 1993, Hyderabad 1996), from 1986-2006 with presentations at all conferences (Karachi chapter) except in 1995. 13. Paper presented at the Specialist Conference on Research in Large Classes held at Chulalonkorn University, Bangkok (April 1994 ) 14. Presented a workshop on A fun way to learn English: the English Language Club at the 2 nd International ELT Conference of the Nepal English Language Teachers, Kathmandu Dec 1994. 15. Attended the IATEFL Conference 1992, Herriot Watt Univ., Edinburgh 16. Attended Conference on Classroom Observation held at the Lancaster Univ., March 1992 17. Presented a paper on Teaching Grammar in the Pakistani Context at the 27 th International Conference of the Association of Systemic Functional Linguists at Melbourne University, Australia [10-14 July 2000] 18. Presented Paper at the 16 th SPELT International Conference, Karachi (Oct 13-15, 2000) on Learners problems, teachers dilemma. Research experience 4

1 Action research on Portfolios as an alternate teaching-learning & assessment tool at Aga Khan University Seminar (April 2009) 2 Action research on Undergraduate nursing students writing skills development (Paper presented jointly at AKUCEL Seminar 2007; just published as a chapter in AKUCEL s 2009 book Empowerment through English) 3. Completed study for M.Phil on Patterns of interaction in some public sector colleges: A case study of Pakistani institutions. 4. Completed and submitted a joint study on Existing research capacity in English departments of public sector universities in Pakistan for English Language Teaching Reforms Project of Higher Education Commission (Pakistan) 2005 5. Completed A study of the N.E.D. Entry Test Phenomenon for four years:1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 in 2002. 6. Completed a grant-funded study on Issues in large classes in some public sector colleges (2005-2006) British Council Aga Khan University Centre of English Language. 7. Member of the research group headed by Dr K. Rahman, former Chairman, English Dept & Dean Faculty of Arts, Karachi University (1988 1989 ) 8. Collaborative research done under the joint project of the British Council and Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers [SPELT] with Dr Adrian Holliday (Canterbury University as foreign consultant & Dr Fauzia Shamim of Karachi University as local consultant. 9. Completed a study on N.E.D. University teachers and students perceptions about consultations under a tailor-made program sponsored by TESOL for its affiliate member SPELT. Consultants: Dr Kathy Bailey, Boston [TESOL], Ms Isobel Rainey, Surrey University. VII. Awards received 1. Travel Grant from Higher Education Commission (Pakistan) to present paper at 34 th IAEA 2008 Conference at Cambridge University (September 2008) 2. Hornby Award (1991-1992) for M.Ed TESOL (Leeds, UK) 3. British Council Summer School, Stirling(UK) bursary for 1986 4. Secretariat of Education nominee for Training to Teach in the Semester System (July 1977) 5. Dhaka HSC Board Talent Scheme Scholarship (1965-1968) VIII Publications 1. Ahsan, N.M. Lifelong learning: Perceptions of some Pakistani professionals In Emerging Issues in TEFL: Challenges for South Asia. (2009). S. Mansoor, A. Sikander, N. Hussain, & Ahsan, N.M. (Eds). Karachi: Oxford University Press. 5

2. Ahsan,N.M. Tertiary teachers perceptions and attitudes about pedagogic training In Mansoor.S et al(eds) Language Planning, Policy & Practice. 2003. Oxford University Press. Karachi Pakistan. 3. Ahsan,N.M. : Vistas: English for professional colleges. 2001. OUP, Karachi 4. 10 articles based on classroom experiences published in the SPELT Newsletters from 1988-1998. 5. Teaching Idioms In BBC English Feb : 1994, Karachi. Oxford Univ. Press 6. Sarwar Z. et al. 1991. Middle Stage English Book 2. Sindh Textbook Board, Jamshore, Sindh. 7. Sarwar Z. (ed), N.Ahsan & S.Meraj. 1997.Anchor in English Parts I & II.( Also Curriculum Design Document, both for P.N.S. Rahber, Pakistan Naval Acdemy) 8. Sarwar Z. (ed),n.m.ahsan,n.hussain,p.hussein,t.rafi. 1991. English Study Skills.,Kifayat Publications,Karachi.. a SPELT Publication 9. Book chapter ESP/EAP: Leading learners towards empowerment (in Press) Current status (since October 01, 2007 ) Professor (English), and Chairperson Humanities Department N.E.D. University of Engineering & Technology Karachi 75400, Sindh- Pakistan Personal details Date & Place of birth: 24 June 1948, Delhi, (Undivided India) Nationality: Pakistani Marital status: Married Children: Three (two married, one a professional) Permanent address (res): Taha Homes, 348 / 15,B.J.C.H.S., Karachi 75600, Sindh Karachi Email: nmahsan@neduet.edu.pk/ahsan.nasreen2@gmail.com Ph (off) (9221) 4969261-69 ext. 2353; (res) (9221) 4852467/4852468; Cell ph: (0300) 8240524 VII Referees 1.Dr Sabiha Mansoor 2. Professor Zakia Sarwar Professor & Dean Founder Member SPELT Faculty of Education SPELT House Beaconhouse National University 206/1, New Kauser Square 3, Zafar Ali Khan Road Frere Town, Karachi, Pakistan Lahore. Tel: (9221) 5676307, 5868990 Email :sabiha.mansoor@bnu.edu.pk Email:<zsarwar@cyber.net.pk> 3. Engineer Abul Kalam 4. Dr Saad Ismail Vice Chancellor Professor & Dean N.E.D. University of Engineering Faculty of Education & Learning 6

& Technology, Karachi. Innovations, Iqra University Gulshan University, Karachi.. 7