ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
The 4th International Social Sciences Conference entitled “Regional and International Cooperation: Problems and Prospects 2016” concluded at Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad.
The conference was organized by HEC in collaboration with Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), AJK. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC was chief guest in the closing ceremony. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman, Vice Chancellor MUST was also present. The conference was attended by vice chancellors, academicians, social scientists, students and delegates from Pakistan, Indian-occupied Kashmir and Malaysia.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed stressed the need for training students so that they become good citizens in addition to specialize in their respective professions. “In order to have good human beings, we need to promote Social Sciences and the country should have a strong base for Social Sciences”, he said, adding that HEC is committed to facilitating higher education institutions to provide students with conducive environment to become good citizens.
The Chairman added that HEC accords due importance to Social Sciences and it has set up Thematic Research Grant to facilitate Social Sciences students to conduct research. He said that HEC has been remarkably increasing the Grant every year and it extends considerable percentage of scholarships for disciplines of Social Science.
Urging the Vice Chancellors to sensitize students on relevance of their studies, he regretted lack of applications for scholarships in Social Sciences. He said it is obligatory upon Social Scientists to sort out solutions to prevailing problems of our society.
Earlier, the second day sessions covered topics including Business Challenges and International Relations, and Education Challenges and Economic Prosperity. These were followed by a panel discussion attended by Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, Chairman, Gallup Pakistan, Dr. Tahir Amin, Vice Chancellor, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Dr. Masood Akhtar Zahid from Department of Pakistan Studies, QAU Islamabad, Mr. Abdul Jalil, retired Chief Administration FBR, Dr. Andrea Fleschenberg dos Ramos Pineu from QAU, Islamabad, Dr. Adeel Malik from University of Oxford, UK, and other academicians.
The panelists emphasized international collaboration and exchange of scholars in addition to teaching critical thinking and research methodology. They also urged formulation of state policy in line with findings of Social Sciences research in order to address the root cause of problems. They said interaction among academia, industry and media is necessary to know the real issues. They observed that regional and international cooperation requires peace and solution of issues like Kashmir dispute.