Coronavirus crisis: HEC seeks proposals from researchers

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has sought proposals from universities, institutions and individual researchers on ideas to address the coronavirus crisis. This was decided on Tuesday in a special video meeting of HEC's senior management.
The HEC staff has been directed to work from home so that all the work of the commission is conducted electronically. The research initiative with the support of World Bank titled RAPID Research and Innovation Fund (RRIF) program aims to mobilize the research capacities of universities in support of national efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis.
Under the initiative, a rapid assessment and review mechanism has been established to analyze research and innovation proposals urgently. Each applicant seeking funding through the RAPID Research and Innovation Fund can propose an idea based on one of the priority themes. The proposals are due by April 3, and funding decisions will be made within the month of April. Funding will be provided to selected research-intensive institutions for analysis of data, testing of specimens, access to facilities or equipment, or development of essential products or services.
Besides the research initiative, the HEC has also been working with universities to minimize the impact of lockdown of universities on academic activities. To this end, three specialized committees have been established to help arrange IT facilities, software, tech support, and curate substantive online content. The objective is to enable faculty members to continue teaching their courses from where they left off at the time of closure of universities.
Individual faculty members will share their course outline/s and required reading materials with their students through online learning management systems. Universities will develop repositories of online courses. HEC will facilitate access to an extensive digital library of lectures and courses.