1 minute read

Creating SOCIAL IMPACT

Next Article
Charles D. Engmann

Charles D. Engmann

Raza Nazar '14 looks to transform Pakistan's education system

Raza went on to study law at the London School of Economics (LSE) where he became the first Pakistani to be elected president of the LSE Law Society. At the age of 19, he also founded the largest student-run developmental forum in the world: the LSE Future of Pakistan Conference. The second conference hosted then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and made headlines globally for enabling students to hold the government to account. The conference remains an annual event at LSE which sees current students and sitting ministers go headto-head on issues of government policy.

The expertise, thought leadership and rich exchange of ideas that took place at last year’s UWCSEA Forum: Learning to Shape the Future extended far beyond the stages and screens. Meaningful connections were made as a result of the many conversations that took place, connections that hold the seeds of great potential to create impact well beyond the UWC Movement.

At the centre of some of these exciting exchanges was Raza Nazar ’14, an alumnus from East Campus’ inaugural graduating class who was visiting Singapore during the Forum. An active and engaged alumnus, Raza has participated in Alumni University Fairs, attended London Alumni gatherings and has continued to connect with former teachers, including Nick Alchin, Ted Cowan and Pamela Wetzell on his journey beyond UWCSEA; specifically his enduring vision to transform Pakistan’s education system by introducing values-based learning inspired by the his experience at UWCSEA. “I think if we could universalise concept-based learning, critical thinking and education for peace, we could empower billions of people to discover themselves and take control of their own destinies,” Raza noted.

Following four years practising international commercial law in the UK, Raza is poised to take his vision for educational reform in Pakistan to the next level. He has been accepted to pursue the world’s premier law course, the Bachelor of Civil Laws, at Trinity College, the University of Oxford, this fall. He plans to take courses in constitutional law and theory, which he considers to have parallels with the design and functioning of an education system, as well as the conceptualisation of the human right to education. In his free time, Raza works on various education projects in Pakistan, including twoweek ‘short courses’ to sample concept based learning and agency-led growth in local communities.

Raza’s passion for education reform in Pakistan continues, and he recently helped support a milestone as the National Curriculum Council Secretariat approved a core curriculum for Grades 1–12, following input from subject experts from all provinces, for the first time in Pakistan’s history.

“It is incredibly exciting to think about the idea of ‘Education for Peace’ being tabled at the highest levels of government,” says Raza. “Particularly with the potential for UWCSEA to leverage its thought leadership in that space.”

This article is from: