NOP Summer Coaching Session 2025 Closing Report

The Start…

The NOP Summer Coaching Session (SCS) 2025 commenced with great enthusiasm and renewed purpose, welcoming shortlisted students to the LUMS campus from 28^th July to 11^th August 2025. This year, the NOP achieved a significant milestone by receiving close to 12,000 applications through the NOP Online Application System, now in its seventh year.  This overwhelming response is a testament to the programme’s growing impact and reach. After a meticulous verification process, 684 participants from across Pakistan were invited to join the session, with 603 of them eagerly making their way to the LUMS campus.
This year, the structure and depth of the academic programme were greatly enhanced. While English and Mathematics remained the core components of instruction, several enriching modules were added, including School of Education (SOE), Critical Thinking, Capacity Building, Presentation Skills, Communication Skills, and Digital Literacy, Verbal and Non-Verbal Communications and Professional Grooming. This multidimensional curriculum not only supported preparation for the LUMS Common Admission Test (LCAT) but also offered holistic academic and personal development. The diversity of subjects, instructors, and pedagogical styles provided participants with a rigorous and fulfilling learning experience.

Powering the Experience

Behind the scenes of this transformative experience was a team of over 60 LUMS volunteers, comprising current students and alumni who arrived a week in advance to ensure everything was ready for the participants. These volunteers played a pivotal role in running the programme smoothly, undertaking critical responsibilities that spanned attendance monitoring, hostel supervision, classroom support, activity facilitation, medical facilitation and peer mentoring. Their dedication set the tone for a welcoming and disciplined environment where each student could thrive.

Participants hailed from a vast array of towns, cities, and villages across Pakistan, representing the ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the country. The NOP Centre ensured inclusivity in its selection process, with a visible representation from minority communities and underserved regions, such as Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Waziristan, and Interior Sindh. For the first in the history of NOP SCS 2025, a member of Sikh community was part of the said activity. Living together, learning together, and engaging in co-curricular activities allowed students to form bonds of empathy, friendship, and shared purpose.

Academic and Personal Growth

Over the course of two weeks, students demonstrated remarkable growth in both academic capability and soft skills. The structured curriculum and rigorous pace of the session helped students sharpen their quantitative reasoning and language comprehension. More importantly, they were encouraged to question, analyze, and articulate, skills essential to thrive in a university setting like LUMS.

Significant learning outcomes included improvements in mathematical logic, problem-solving abilities, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning. A deliberate focus on interactive learning, through discussions, debates, group presentations, and case-based instruction, helped students become more confident and expressive. The module on Critical Thinking fostered an inquisitive mindset, while Digital Literacy, Verbal and Non Verbal Communication, Professional Grooming and Capacity Building equipped participants with skills essential in the modern academic and professional landscape.
In addition to classroom instruction, three examinations were conducted at different intervals during the programme. These assessments not only tracked academic progress but also familiarized students with the format and pressure of timed tests, further preparing them for LCAT and other competitive assessments.

Holistic Development through Activities

Understanding that learning extends beyond the classroom, SCS 2025 offered a rich menu of co-curricular activities that fostered creativity, confidence, collaboration, and well-being. These included:

• “Challenge Your Talent”: A gameshow-style academic event that tested the students’ knowledge and response time in a fun, high-energy environment.
• Cultural and Drama Night: A colorful celebration of Pakistan’s rich heritage where students performed regional dances, short plays, and musical renditions.
• Sports Gala: A physically engaging event that promoted health, sportsmanship, and teamwork through friendly competitions in various sports disciplines.
   

Such experiences proved invaluable in instilling a sense of community among participants. They were not just spectators, but active contributors to each event, showcasing talents and discovering new interests. The cultural exchange that occurred through these platforms helped students appreciate the plurality of their shared Pakistani identity.

Measuring Impact

At the end of the session, a detailed feedback survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. 
The results indicated a highly positive response. Students reported that the content was well-structured, intellectually stimulating, and relevant to their academic journeys. Many expressed that they had never been exposed to such interactive and immersive learning before. The survey responses highlighted:

• Increased clarity in subject fundamentals (especially in English and Math)
• Boost in self-confidence and public speaking skills
• Improved peer collaboration and communication
• Greater exposure to digital tools and learning platforms
• Appreciation for the diversity, inclusivity, and overall environment at LUMS through professional grooming
   

This feedback will be instrumental in shaping the design and delivery of future coaching sessions.

Acknowledging the Pillars of Success

The seamless execution of the NOP SCS 2025 was only possible through the tireless efforts of LUMS administrative departments and stakeholders who provided their support at every stage of the planning and execution process. Departments such as Procurement, Housing, IST, Finance, Medical Centre, Facilities and Engineering, Vigilance, GAS, the Office of Admissions, and the Office of Financial Aid played critical roles in logistics, safety, classroom preparation, financial tracking, medical support, and hostel management.

A particularly heartfelt acknowledgment goes to the volunteers whose dedication, leadership, and compassion elevated the entire programme experience. Their tireless work behind the scenes ensured that every student had a safe, comfortable, and memorable stay at LUMS.

Recommendations for Future Sessions

The 2025 feedback and internal reflections suggest the following recommendations to enhance future coaching sessions:
Academic Enhancements:

• Extend the coaching session duration to 25–30 days, which would allow students to engage with the content more deeply and steadily.
• Allocate dedicated time for examination preparation and focused revision blocks toward the end of the programme.
  Non-Academic Improvements:
• Adjust the daily timetable to include more breaks for rest and refreshment, enhancing student productivity.
• Expand menu options with better vegetarian meals and more varied daily dishes to accommodate dietary preferences.
• Increase the frequency of motivational alumni talks and mentorship sessions.
• Introduce a targeted track for pre-medical students to cater to their academic orientation.
• Launch outreach initiatives in underserved colleges to encourage more students to apply to NOP in coming years.

Looking Ahead

The NOP Summer Coaching Session 2025 will be remembered as a deeply impactful experience for all involved. From the meticulous planning stages to the final day of farewells, the session reflected LUMS’ unwavering commitment to equity, excellence, and empowerment through education. The programme not only prepared students for academic challenges ahead but also ignited within them the belief that they belong in spaces of opportunity, leadership, and change.

We now look forward to seeing how these bright, determined individuals will carry forward the values and skills gained during this programme. Their stories are just beginning, and the NOP Centre is proud to have played a foundational role in shaping their paths.