National seminar on `Future of Research in Pakistan and Project Exhibition tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: To showcase the research contribution of higher education sector towards economy and community, Higher Education Commission (HEC) will organize a national seminar on `Future of Research in Pakistan and Projects Exhibition on May 18 (Saturday).

The seminar will demonstrate the social and economic impact of creativity and research carried out in universities and how the professionals see the future of research in Pakistan.

This national seminar will also give an opportunity to the stakeholders to define the future direction of research in Pakistan and the role of higher education institutions.

Dr. Sania Nishtar Federal Minister for Science and Technology and Education and Training would be chief guest.

Dr. Javaid R. Laghari Chairperson, HEC and Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Executive Director HEC would speak at the event. The event would also be attended by federal secretaries, vice chancellors, representatives of industries, academia and non-governmental organizations.

Since inception of HEC, Universities in Pakistan have responded vociferously to the initiatives taken by HEC towards the promotion of Research and Development.

As a result of above mentioned efforts, academic employment and retention of doctoral scientists and engineers grew over the last decade and has reached to a record high of 5,826 in 2011-12 in universities and degree awarding institutions.

Due to this, the research activities have enhanced in the public sector institutions resulting in more than 6 folds increase in research articles published in impact factor journals and registration of 5 patents.

HEC tried to develop sustainable, dynamic and internationally competitive research sector in Pakistan that makes a major contribution to economic prosperity, national wellbeing and the expansion and dissemination of knowledge.

Due to collective and concerted effort of HEC in coordination with the major stakeholders, the quality and research output in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the country have shown tremendous improvements and Pakistan has been acknowledged as rising star by the international higher education community in a number of research disciplines.

Today many Pakistani universities are seen on the globe. Streamlined research, generated by strategic academic processes that build strong societies and economies has now entered a takeoff phase of commercialization.

Business and Technology Incubators are being established in universities across Pakistan to promote university-industry collaboration. Universities have initiated different research projects related to agriculture, business, industrial needs, which are shared with the related stakeholders and other sections of the society.

In order to sustain the trend and to expand the horizon of research activities in HEIs while reaping the benefits of research in real term of community impact and research commercialization, HEC focused on research activities those have direct impact on community wellbeing and economy of the country.