The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) warmly welcomed Prof. Naeem Yaqoob in a welcome gathering held on January 6, 2025 in CPSC. Prof. Naeem was officially introduced to the CPSC staff as it marked the beginning of his tenure as the new Faculty Specialist of the Staff College. He officially assumed office on January 2, 2025.
During the gathering, CPSC Director General Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja welcomed Prof. Naeem to the CPSC family and expressed his support to Prof. Naeem’s future projects and undertakings with CPSC.
Prof. Dr. Dhameja (right) handed over some tokens of welcome to Prof. Naeem (left)
The CPSC staff, including Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant, also introduced themselves and conveyed their messages to the new Faculty Specialist. This was followed by the presentation of tokens of welcome which Prof. Dr. Dhameja handed over to Prof. Naeem.
Prior to his appointment as the new CPSC Faculty Specialist, Prof. Naeem held the esteemed position of Director (Planning & Admin) at the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) in Pakistan. He also served as the Deputy Director (Project & Business Development) in NAVTTC from 2012 to 2024.
He has participated in CPSC Programs as a Resource Person, and recently joined as an accreditor with the Asia Pacific Accreditation & Certification Commission (APACC) in 2024. Prof. Naeem also obtained certifications from Advanced TVET Administrator Teachers’ Training Program for NAVTTC and United States Education Foundation Funded Community College Administrator Program in University of Massachusetts, United States of America.
Prof. Naeem managed various national projects for the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Program; secured funding for NAVTTC; and supervised skills training for youth in Pakistan. He has worked on projects with international organizations like United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the British Council.
Notably, Prof. Naeem played a significant role in developing the Modern Apprenticeship Act in 2018 for Pakistan; established various technical labs; and worked on projects for skill training in newly merged districts and for madrassa youth. Prof. Naeem also spearheaded the solarization of 50 TVET institutes.
Prof. Naeem holds an M.Phil. in Public Policy, which he obtained from the Riphah Institute of Public Policy, Islamabad in 2022, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering from The University of Faisalabad in 2008.
