The panellists emphasised on teaching critical thinking and research methodology in universities. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD: Universities need to teach and promote critical thinking to find solutions to the problems faced by the country, panellists emphasised at the 4th International Social Sciences Conference that concluded on Friday at the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
“It is obligatory upon social scientists to sort out solutions to prevailing problems of our society,” HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said at the moot according to a statement issued on Friday.
The conference titled Regional and International Cooperation: Problems and Prospects 2016 was organised by HEC in collaboration with Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), AJK.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that social sciences help make good citizens. Noting that the starkest issues Pakistan faces were ideological, he stressed the need for training students so that they become good citizens and not only good professionals.
"In order to have good human beings, we need a strong base for social sciences", he said according to the statement.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed observed that there was lack of applications for scholarships in social sciences.
MUST Vice Chancellor Dr Habibur Rehman also expressed his views. Academicians, social scientists, students and delegates from Pakistan, Indian-occupied Kashmir and Malaysia attended the moot.
The panellists emphasised on teaching critical thinking and research methodology in universities.
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.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2016.
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