In an inspiring and timely initiative, the students of the university gathered for a panel discussion titled “Earning While Learning: Skills, Platforms and Opportunities in Freelancing” that offered a powerful roadmap for youth seeking to combine academic study with meaningful income generation. The event brought together distinguished industry leaders and entrepreneurial experts who shared insights, strategies, and motivation on how students can leverage their skills, adopt marketplaces, and proactively shape their freelancing careers.

Aligned with The University of Faisalabad’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, this discussion underscored the importance of empowering students with practical skills and entrepreneurial mindsets. By promoting self-reliance and innovation, The University of Faisalabad continues to create pathways for youth to contribute productively to the economy while achieving personal and professional growth.

Setting the Scene and Expert Panel

The discussion convened on October 22, 2025, and featured three eminent speakers: Mr. Usama Khalid (a top-rated Upwork consultant, business developer, and director associated with Liverpool John Moores University), Mr. Talha Jamil (Chief Executive Officer of Brand Lab and Founder & President of Innovative Youth Circle), and Ms. Maryam Hassan (Chief Executive Officer of Edgifye Group). Their combined experience spans freelancing platforms, youth entrepreneurship, business development, and digital skill-markets.

The choice of panelists reflected a strategic mix: one who specialized in platform expertise and rating systems (Mr. Usama Khalid), one grounded in youth branding and business incubation (Mr. Talha Jamil), and one who led a digital-skills enterprise (Ms. Maryam Hassan). Together, they offered a holistic view of freelancing: the marketplace dimension, the personal branding and professional development dimension, and the structural/organizational dimension.

During the event, panelists addressed the most pressing challenges faced by students entering the freelancing world—namely, communication barriers, inconsistent workflows, and time-management issues—and offered concrete solutions. They also shared how to optimise online profiles, cultivate networks, and continuously up-skill in line with market trends. An interactive question-and-answer session followed, in which students engaged directly with the guests to ask about client engagement, portfolio building, and identifying in-demand skills. The event concluded with a formal presentation of souvenirs by the Head of the English Department, marking an appreciative close to a rich afternoon of learning and dialogue.

Why This Discussion Matters for Students

Freelancing as a concept has gained remarkable traction globally—and for students, it presents a compelling opportunity: the ability to earn while you learn. Rather than waiting for graduation to generate income or for a conventional job to open up, students can begin building their professional identity, income streams, and portfolios while still on campus. This panel addressed several key dimensions of that reality:

  • Bridging academics and income generation: For many students, the academic workload and schedule leave limited scope for traditional part-time jobs. Freelancing offers flexible hours, remote access, and pay-for-deliverables rather than fixed hours.
  • Skill-driven economy: The marketplace doesn’t always reward time-served roles; increasingly, it rewards specific, demonstrable skills—writing, designing, programming, digital marketing, language skills, video editing, and more. By aligning academic learning with these skills, students can accelerate their career trajectory.
  • Portfolio and reputation building: Freelancing platforms work heavily on reputation systems, reviews, and visible portfolios. Starting early allows students to amass real work samples, client feedback, and case studies that future employers or clients will value.
  • Networking and global access: With freelancing, geography matters less, and global access matters more. Students can tap clients around the world, build cross-cultural experience, widen their professional lens, and earn in foreign currencies (or competitive rates) while residing locally.
  • Self-management and entrepreneurship: Freelancing isn’t just about doing tasks—it’s about managing clients, time, expectations, financials, and personal branding. For students, this is a live training ground in professionalism and entrepreneurship.

By choosing to host this panel, the university recognised that its students must be equipped not only for employment after graduation but for proactive, independent participation in today’s digital/skill economy.

Key Takeaways from the Panelists

1. Communication & Client Engagement

The panel underscored that technical skill alone is rarely sufficient; clear communication, understanding client needs, setting realistic expectations, and managing revisions matter just as much. Many students falter because they deliver a technically correct output but fail to ask clarifying questions, manage feedback loops, or craft a client-friendly experience. The experts stressed that building strong client relationships often yields repeat work, referrals, and better pricing.

2. Portfolio and Profile Optimization

The panelists recommended that students treat their freelancing profiles (on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc.) as mini-resumes: choose a strong profile photo, craft a compelling headline, summarize a value proposition, highlight prior projects—even academic ones or personal side-projects—and request early feedback/testimonials. While students may lack extensive client history, showing quality, professionalism, and initiative can make a big difference in platform visibility and client trust.

3. Time Management and Workflow Consistency

One of the core challenges for student-freelancers is balancing coursework, deadlines, social life, and client work. The group emphasised planning, setting realistic schedules, carving out dedicated work slots, avoiding multitasking, and managing revisions proactively. They advocated using simple tools (time-trackers, task lists, calendar-blocks) and being transparent with clients about expected deadlines. Inconsistency, they said, often leads to lost ratings or client dissatisfaction—critical risks on a platform dependent on reviews.

4. Identifying In-Demand Skills and Continuous Learning

Freelancing markets evolve rapidly. The speakers urged students to keep an eye on emerging trends—such as e-commerce content creation, social-media management, UX/UI design, mobile-app prototyping, data analytics—and to invest in one or two niche skills rather than trying to cover everything. They suggested regular up-skilling, certifications, following industry blogs/forums, and building a “micro-specialty” that differentiates the freelancer.

5. Platforms and Opportunities

The panel introduced several freelancing platforms and internship-opportunity models where students can begin: major global platforms, localised marketplaces, university-industry collaborations, and remote internships. The panel also highlighted that while global platforms offer broader access, students should not ignore local or regional marketplaces, which may have lower competition and be a good starting point. The emphasis: begin early, experiment, learn from each contract, and gradually scale.

Student Perspectives and Q&A Highlights

During the interactive session, students asked targeted questions such as: “How do you bid as a newcomer with no reviews?”, “How do you handle client non-payment or disputes?”, “Should I accept low-pay work to build my profile or wait for better rates?”, “How do I balance multiple small gigs without burning out?” The panel shared practical responses:

  • Accepting one or two low-pay rated gigs can help build your profile—if the work is manageable and well-reviewed—but don’t let low rates become your standard.
  • Always use platform safeguards: milestone payments, asking for upfront deposits, and clear contractual terms.
  • Don’t overcommit: quality matters more than quantity. A few successful projects with strong reviews serve better than many rushed ones.
  • Use student status to your advantage: you can emphasise “I’m a university student specializing in X, offering fresh ideas at competitive rates” rather than pretending to be a seasoned veteran. Authenticity is fine.
  • Focus on delivering value, not just exercise tasks: if your client sees you as a partner rather than just an executor, better projects and fees follow.

Students reported feeling motivated and better equipped to begin freelancing while studying. Many appreciated the combination of strategic advice (platforms, workflows) and motivational encouragement (you do not need to wait until degree completion to begin).

How to Begin Your Freelancing Journey as a Student

Based on the panel discussion and practical best practices, here is a step-by-step starter guide for students:

  1. Inventory your skills: List what you are good at (writing, editing, graphic design, coding, language translation, video editing, social media). Also, list what you are willing to learn.
  2. Select a niche: Rather than “all things to all clients,” pick one area you can specialise in (e.g., “social-media content for small e-commerce businesses,” or “proofreading and editing academic students’ essays,” or “basic front-end web design for local non-profits”).
  3. Build a mini-portfolio: If no paid work yet, use academic projects, personal side-projects, or mock assignments. Showcase outcomes—screenshots, testimonials (if any), success metrics.
  4. Create/optimize your platform profiles: Choose 1-2 freelancing sites to start with. Use a professional photo, write a clear headline (“Student freelancer specialising in X”), craft a description mentioning your unique value, include portfolio items, and set fair introductory pricing.
  5. Apply/bid on gigs: Start with smaller gigs to build reviews. Write customised proposals—mention your study status (if beneficial), your relevant skills, how you will solve the client’s problem, and ask clarifying questions.
  6. Deliver high-quality work: Set realistic deadlines, communicate regularly, ask for feedback, manage revisions politely, and aim for a 5-star review.
  7. Reflect and iterate: After each completed project, review what went well, what could improve, and update your profile or proposal templates accordingly.
  8. Scale: Once you have a few successful projects and positive reviews, increase your rates, refine your niche, approach higher-value clients, and consider adding a website or social proof.
  9. Balance with academics: Use time-blocking to ensure your freelancing doesn’t hamper your studies. Remember: your degree and long-term career goals still matter.
  10. Stay updated and connect: Follow industry blogs, join student freelancer groups, network with other freelancers, and ask for mentorship. The speakers emphasised that freelancing isn’t solo—it thrives on community and continual learning.

Institutional Role and Future Implications

The university’s organisation of this panel discussion is a reflection of a broader academic responsibility: to equip students not only with subject knowledge but with career-readiness skills, entrepreneurial mindsets, and income-generating capabilities in a rapidly evolving global economy. By facilitating dialogue, bringing in industry experts, and fostering an interactive learning environment, the institution moves beyond traditional teaching models and prepares students for diversified futures.

Such initiatives signal several important implications:

  • Curriculum integration: Schools and departments may increasingly embed modules on digital freelancing, entrepreneurship, or hybrid work models into the formal curriculum.
  • Support infrastructure: Universities might establish dedicated cells or offices to help students set up freelancing profiles, connect with mentors, access marketplaces, and monitor progress.
  • Research and innovation: The rise of freelancing calls for research into local marketplace dynamics, student-entrepreneur readiness, digital labour policy, and income diversification among youth.
  • Social impact and access: Student-freelancers can serve as early-career professionals for local small businesses, NGOs, or start-ups—helping regional economic development while gaining experience.
  • Global competitiveness: For Pakistan’s youth in particular, freelancing offers a pathway to global income and exposure. Empowering students with these skills strengthens national human capital, reduces brain drain, and promotes digital exports.

Conclusion: Embracing Freelancing as a Student Opportunity

The panel discussion on “Earning While Learning” successfully opened doors of possibility for students who are keen to step beyond passive study and engage actively in building their professional futures. Through insights from experienced freelancing professionals, practical advice on platforms and portfolio-building, plus real-world strategies on communication, time-management, and up-skilling, the event equipped students with a toolkit for the new digital/skill economy.

For students, the message is clear: don’t wait until graduation to start building your professional identity—begin now. With clear focus, disciplined workflows, and an entrepreneurial mindset, freelancing can serve as a complement to your academic journey, enabling you to earn, learn, and grow simultaneously.

For the university and academic ecosystem, the panel underscores the need to integrate opportunities like these—linking classroom learning to global marketplaces, aligning student aspirations with digital reality, and creating environments where young people can explore, experiment, and succeed.

In a world where work, skills, and opportunities are evolving rapidly, having the ability to freelance while studying isn’t just a luxury—it’s a strategic advantage. By embracing this mindset, students become not only degree-holders but proactive creators of their career pathways, ready for whatever the future holds.