STAFF REPORT ISB: HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed has said that the Commission has been endeavouring to promote and intensify research in Social Sciences.
“We have set up a dedicated social sciences section at HEC to identify realities of diverse social and human issues which Pakistan is facing,” said Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed.
He further said that the scholars and researchers of Social Sciences and Humanities, who have theoretical, conceptual, methodological and policy orientation background, have been invited for grants.
“Their research projects may belong to any Social Sciences and Humanities discipline or may be interdisciplinary as well as multidisciplinary in nature,” he said.
Research themes, on which proposals will be submitted, include Security Challenges in Pakistan; Pakistani Society: Tradition and Change; Balancing Global and Local Needs: Geo-political Economy; Education Policy, Leadership and Management for the 21st Century; and Governance and Development.
The Chairman revealed that Pakistan had gained membership of the Asian Social Sciences Association (ASSA) and Pakistan will host the Associations first meeting in October this year.
He said that HEC is also promoting societal research through publications of research journals falling under the disciplines of Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities and Business Education.
Evaluation, recognition, categorization, funding and upgradation of research journals of Social Sciences and Humanities are being special attention, he added.