About Us
Oxbridge Innovative Solutions is a private limited firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). Oxbridge was founded in 2016 by two Cambridge and Oxford University alumni, and since then has been working on education reforms in Pakistan, specifically in introducing STEM/STEAM initiatives for in-school and out-of-school children aged 6-16 years with a particular focus on girls, climate smart education, creating climate awareness among urban and rural communities, women empowerment initiatives, and digitising small women-led businesses through technology.
Both the founders bring on-board over 20 years of collective experience in climate-smart education, climate-energy nexus, and ICT4D sectors.They are supported by a team of local and international experts.
Over the years, Oxbridge has established strong partnerships with public and private sector clients including but not limited to USAID, US State Department, British Council, DFID, European Union, UNDP, Nokia, Microsoft, MoIT and several educational institutes.
Our Vision
Our vision is to improve the socio-economic conditions of less privileged masses (youth and communities, particularly girls) by empowering them with better education, clean energy services and 21st century learning skills to adapt to global climate change.
Our Focus Areas:
- Climate-smart Education
STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Education - Access to Clean Energy
- Women Empowerment
- Digitalization
- Community Development
- Capacity Building
Founders
Manzil-e-Maqsood
Co-Founder and CEO
Oxbridge Innovative Solutions
Manzil is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, UK and National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU), Lahore, Pakistan, with an academic background in education research, educational assessment (specialization in formative assessment), educational technologies, project management, and teaching.
She has more than 15 years of experience in STEM/STEAM education, formative assessments, teachers’ capacity building, ICT for education, and edtech solutions for science and math instruction. She has been a permanent faculty member at NUST Department of Innovative Technologies in Learning, and has also taught at FAST-NU Lahore. Manzil is a strong believer of hands-on, experiential, and project-based learning, and through her company Oxbridge Innovative Solutions, aims to impart the love of ‘making’ and ‘learning-by-doing’ among children so that they could apply textbook knowledge to real-life problems through critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. She is a staunch supporter of girls in STEM, and runs women empowerment programs focusing on digitization and entrepreneurship. Manzil also works on building teachers’ capacity in STEM pedagogical approaches, and helps schools realize the potential of their students by providing early career options in various STEM domains, thus making learning fun for them. She has recently launched a series of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) educational products called Chotay Kaarsaaz for children aged 6-16 years
Talha Javed
Director and Co-Founder
Oxbridge Innovative Solutions
Talha is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge and has over 20 years of senior management experience, specializing in clean energy and climate change, and ICT4D sectors, including 12 years of C-level experience. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a proven track record of designing, monitoring and implementing complex multi-million dollar country-level programs in South Asia in sustainable energy-climate nexus, and ICT4D domains, while providing strategic and managerial leadership. As the Country Director of a US-based firm, Mr. Javed established strong partnerships with multiple Governments, private sector and international development organizations, and raised $150 million funds through USAID, DFID, British Council, EU, UNDP, US State Dept., IDRC, Nokia, Microsoft, and Government entities. Also established strong collaborations with clients in the US, UK, China and Pakistan and successfully delivered several Int’l programs and consulting assignments. As the Chief of Party and Director Monitoring and Implementation for a USAID-funded $500 million climate-smart energy program, he successfully led a multicultural team of 150 professionals and delivered sustainable infrastructure projects ensuring environmental compliance and emission reductions. Also, led institutional strengthening of state-owned entities through improvements in governance, transparency, accountability, digitalization and inclusive growth.
Successfully managed contractual deliverables on donor funded programs – reporting and review, MEL activities, project budgeting, work planning, QA/QC and KPI’s. Developed several winning bids for IFI’s, donors, Int’l corporates, Governments while leading business development effort through Int’l US firms (Tetra Tech, Mott MacDonald, CDM Smith, AEAI, and DT Global). He is well-equipped to work in conflict-affected and high-risk areas, as demonstrated by his experience next to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He also managed capacity building of both public and private sector entities on governance procedures and clean energy development, including leading an on-the-job technical training program for marginalized youth with a focus on gender integration in energy sector entities.
Our Team
Sitwat Atiq
Communications and Content Analyst
Sitwat Atiq a graduate of NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) is the Content Developer at Oxbridge Innovative Solutions. Her major interests are reading and writing. Her aim is to work in dynamic environment where she can contribute towards organizational success while enriching her own skills alongside.
Engr. Muhammad Fahad Nasir
Design Engineer & Product Manager
Fahad graduated ‘cum laude’ from Bahria University in the field of Electrical Engineering. He specialized in Electronics and has expertise in Robotics. Ignite Funded his Final Year Project based on Robotics. Fahad has served as Trainer for Oxbridge Innovative Solutions and has conducted numerous Workshops across Pakistan. He also leads his team of engineers in the design and development of Products for “Chotay Kaarsaaz – Project”
Engr. Syed Mohsin Raza Hamdani
Design Engineer
Mohsin is a trained Engineer from NUST, he with a Team of Engineers works on the ‘Chotay Kaarsaaz – Project’. His specialization is in developing highly detailed prototypes for production. His innovative thinking has resulted in very interesting and fun products for Kids. Mohsin also works on introducing STEM Experiments aligned with the Course Work taught in Schools.
Muhammad Hadi Akhtar
Assisstant Manager
Hadi Malik is from a Mass Communication Background and plays a trivial role in actively promoting the Brand of Oxbridge Innovative Solutions and is directly involved in Social Media Strategy and Marketing. He helps develop the advertisement, social media posts, and Campaign for all services that Oxbridge Launches.
Warda Usman
Content Developer & Computer Scientist
Warda Usman is a Computer Scientist from PIEAS and has significant experience with STEM Educational Organizations in Pakistan. She serves as Content Developer for STEAM Resource Packs and delievers workshops on Technology and Electronics to Kids. Warda is currently working on “STEM for Girls” and “Arts and Crafts Related” Products for the “Chotay Kaarsaaz – Project”
Advisors
Dr. A. H. Nayyar
His critical analysis and report on Pakistans Public School curriculum led the government to revise it in 2003. He also played an active role in apprising and co-authoring the National Educational Policy published 2006.
Dr. A. H. Nayyar has served as the Executive Director of Developments in Literacy and as the Director of the Ali Institute of education Lahore. He obtained his Doctorate from Imperial College London and has been a visiting Research Scientist at the Princeton University since 1988. He is presently a faculty member at LUMS.
Dr. Arshad Ali
Prof. Dr Arshad Ali the Executive Director at Higher Education Comission (HEC) Pakisan was former Principal, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS).He is a prolific researcher and academicians. He has over 100 publications to his credit in national and international conferences & refereed journals. He has been awarded gold medal by Pakistan Academy of Sciences and COMSTECH for IT research, Presidents’ Gold medal for best NUST researcher of the year 2005 and “Distinguished Scientists of the Year 2006” award by Pakistan Academy of Sciences. So far, over 100 Pakistani scientists have been given these awards. Dr Arshad is also recipient of President’s pride of performance in IT research
Dr. Fakhar Lodhi
Dr Fakhar Lodhi has a keen interest in improving access to quality education through Information technology and targeted software development. An alumnus of George Washington University, he has been a founding member of some of the leading software houses in Pakistan. Presently he serves as a professor and the Dean at GIFT University Pakistan.
Dr. Qaiser Durrani
Dr. Qaiser Durrani holds renown as an educationist, scholar and consultant in the field of Computer Science. He was the principal investigator in an adaptive English language program conducted by National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NU-FAST), Islamabad. The goal of the project was to develop a computer-aided language learning system for imparting English language skills to the students of class IX.
Dr Qaiser is one of the pioneers of National University Lahore and hold a doctorate from George Washington University USA. He is presently the Rector of GIFT University.
Dr. Ghulam A. Farrukh
Dr Ghulam A. Furrukh is a visiting faculty at the university of agriculture Faisalabad and the virtual university, He has worked extensively in information and communication technology services.
Dr. Farid Malik
Dr Farid Malik is the former chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation. He is also a recognized spokesperson on science and technology for over 30 years now.