ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday urged universities in the country to prepare more skilled professionals in view of the emerging market trends. The president gave these remarks while chairing the fourth meeting of the Senate of National Skills University (NSU), Islamabad, here at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Members of the Senate, including the Vice-Chancellor of NSU, Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar, attended the meeting. The president asked the management of NSU to constitute a committee to chalk out a plan to upscale and multiply the number of students at the university. He underscored the need for double shifts at the universities in the country, besides initiating short courses to fulfil the market demand for skilled manpower. The president also called for providing skill-based education through online and distance modes of learning to meet the growing demand for skilled human resources. The meeting confirmed the minutes of the third meeting of the Senate of NSU, Islamabad. It also accorded approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NSU and the Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology, Dera Ghazi Khan for the promotion of research, education, vocational and skill development training programs between both institutions. Under the MoU, NSU will assist Mir Chakar Khan Rind University in establishing the technological, vocational and professional skill development programs and provide its students with practical training in technical and vocational fields.