International conference: ‘Academia, researchers must help society develop’

First international moot on global gender perspectives concludes

LAHORE: Bringing together leading academia, social scientists and research scholars for exchanging experiences and research findings on important aspects of gender and development studies can help society as a whole, said Punjab Higher Education Minister Zakia Shahnawaz.

She was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the three-day international conference on gender studies titled ‘International Conference on Global Gender Perspectives’ organised by the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Department of Gender and Development Studies in collaboration with the Global Gender Programme of The George Washington University (GWU), USA.

She highlighted various steps taken by the government of Pakistan for promotion of gender equality and appreciated the efforts of GWU and LCWU for holding the conference.



LCWU acting vice-chancellor Prof Dr Uzma Quraeshi said the first-ever event of its nature and magnitude in Pakistan in the field of gender studies was a milestone towards getting better understanding of cultural constructs and social inequalities, which consequently lead to the possibilities of greater collaboration between countries.

While speaking at the closing ceremony, Women Institute of leadership and Learning Director Dr Sarah Shahid said the conference had opened new horizons for new researchers to explore and understand contemporary gender issues from multiple perspectives.

GWU’s Prof Dr Shaista Khilji stressed the importance of future collaboration for sharing and better understanding of global gender dynamics.

Professor Emeritus Dr David Gow, Dr Jane Henrici, Dr Kelly Pemberton, Dr Michael Clark and other foreign delegates also attended the conference.

The faculty members of both the varsities – LCWU Department of Gender and Development Studies and George Washington University, USA – shared their learning experiences and opportunities for sustainability at the panel discussion.

Over 100 national and international presenters participated in the conference and over 100 research papers were presented during the three-day moot.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.