Promoting social sciences: Five varsities to form consortium

ISLAMABAD:

Five public sector universities of the country will form a consortium to promote social sciences and arts.

Vice-Chancellors of the universities — University of Gujrat, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamia University in Gujrat, Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar and Government College University Faisalabad -- agreed to the fact here on Wednesday.

The consortium will focus on faculty development, faculty exchange, students’ exchange, publications, joint research projects (each university will work in its respective geographical area), linkages with international and national organisations, joint seminars/conferences and workshops and other programmes of mutual interest. The universities will sign a formal agreement soon.

The VCs hoped that this step would help improve the state of social sciences in the country and will bring the social scientists of various areas closer to one another to undertake joint programmes aiming at socio-economic development of country, effective links between universities and promotion of the values of peace, tolerance and active citizenship.

Vice Chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University Masoom Yasinzai said that importance of social sciences is being neglected with the passage of time due to increasing focus on technology.

“The basic theme of the consortium is to jointly work for promotion and revival of the importance of social sciences,” he said.

Presently, there are five universities in the consortium and other universities would also be invited in this forum, the VC said. Through the consortium, the universities would jointly design policies and concepts and would work together to achieve these objectives, Yasinzai said.

NLA, Gujrat varsity join hands to promote social sciences

Moreover the National Language Authority and the University of Gujrat (UoG) joined hands to promote social sciences in Pakistan, said a press release issued by the NLA in Islamabad on Tuesday.

NLA Chairperson Dr Anwar Ahmad and UoG VC Dr Nizamuddin signed an agreement under which the two institutes will cooperate to bring out publications, research projects, arranging seminars, conferences and workshops. Sharing their existing facilities and expertise, NLA will assist the UoG in establishing a department of Urdu and regional languages and an NLA section at the central library of the university, the press release said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2011.