Thursday, 13th August 2026

The Faculty of Rehabilitation & Allied Health Sciences (FRAHS), Riphah International University, successfully conducted its Faculty Development Program (FDP) 2026 in two complementary parts, designed to address the professional development needs of young and senior faculty members.

The initiative reflects Riphah’s continued commitment to continuous faculty development, academic excellence, research capacity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation in education.

PEARL: Professional Education, Academic Research & Leadership

The first part of FDP 2026, the PEARL (Professional Education, Academic Research & Leadership) Faculty Development Program, was held on 3, 6 and 7 August 2026 at the DPT Al-Mizan Campus, Rawalpindi. The three-day program brought faculty members together for a structured series of academic and professional development sessions focused on teaching, research, assessment, and academic leadership.

The program covered a diverse range of contemporary themes, including professional education and academic leadership, clinical trial registration, AI-enhanced education, competency-based assessment, biostatistics, sample size calculation, outcome-based education, faculty mindset, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence and data analytics in academia.

The opening day featured sessions on professional education, academic research and leadership, followed by discussions on the clinical trial registration process and the transition from traditional teaching to AI-enhanced education. Participants explored ethical compliance and transparency in clinical research as well as practical ways of integrating AI tools into teaching, learning and academic productivity.

Day two focused on competency-based assessment, statistical analysis and research methodology. Faculty members explored OSCEs, workplace-based assessment, structured rubrics and constructive feedback, followed by practical learning in biostatistics, statistical interpretation and sample size calculation using G*Power.

The final day addressed Outcome-Based Education (OBE), faculty mindset, academic transformation, artificial intelligence and data-driven education. Sessions emphasized curriculum alignment, student-centred learning, reflective practice, professional adaptability, continuous learning, and responsible use of AI, including considerations of academic integrity, data privacy and critical evaluation of AI-generated information.

The PEARL program concluded by reinforcing its objectives of professional growth, research excellence, leadership development and innovation in education, while encouraging faculty members to adapt continuously to the evolving demands of higher education.

AI in Healthcare: Advancing Technology-Enabled Allied Health Education

The second part of FDP 2026, titled “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare,” was conducted from 10–12 August 2026 at Riphah International University’s Gulberg Green Campus, Islamabad. Organized by FRAHS in collaboration with the Riphah Institute of Systems Engineering (RISE) and the Faculty of Computing (FC), the three-day program provided health sciences faculty with an intensive, hands-on introduction to the application of AI in clinical practice, rehabilitation, research and higher education.

The program progressed from AI foundations and healthcare data literacy to computer vision, digital rehabilitation, personalized clinical applications, AI-assisted research, ethics and governance, and the impact of AI on teaching and assessment. The sessions incorporated lectures, live demonstrations and hands-on group activities, culminating in a capstone exercise in which participants designed a teaching module incorporating AI-enabled strategies.

Day one introduced participants to the foundations of artificial intelligence, healthcare data literacy, machine learning fundamentals and Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). Day two explored computer vision, motion analysis, digital rehabilitation, robotics, personalized care and AI-assisted clinical workflows, including practical application through representative patient scenarios.

The final day focused on AI in research and evidence-based practice, including AI-assisted literature review and evidence synthesis, alongside discussions on research integrity, ethics, trustworthiness and governance. The closing academic session examined AI’s impact on teaching, learning and assessment, followed by a group capstone activity focused on AI-informed physical therapy education.

The program concluded with a ceremony addressed by Prof. Dr. Asghar Khan, Dean, who appreciated the engagement of facilitators and participants. Certificates of participation and mementos of appreciation were also presented in recognition of the contributions and active participation of faculty members and facilitators.

The AI in Healthcare FDP successfully strengthened AI literacy, clinical application skills, research competence and teaching innovation among faculty members from Riphah’s health sciences departments. The program also established a strong foundation for the continued integration of AI into teaching, clinical practice and research at FRAHS.

Strengthening Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Together, the two components of FDP 2026 demonstrate Riphah International University’s holistic approach to faculty development—combining professional education, research methodology, academic leadership, innovative pedagogy and emerging technologies.

The collaboration between FRAHS, RISE and the Faculty of Computing further highlights the value of interdisciplinary engagement in preparing educators for the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and allied health care. The initiative provides a strong platform for continued collaboration in research, academic development and technology-enabled education.

Riphah International University extends its appreciation to all faculty members, facilitators, organizers and colleagues whose expertise, participation and commitment contributed to the success of FDP 2026.