AIOU receives highest thematic research grant from HEC

ISLAMABAD, May 22; Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved three research-based projects of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) worth Rs. 14 million, enabling the mega university to do research work on country’s socio-economic problems.
These projects are related to archaeology, history and management sciences. The AIOU has received the highest HEC’s thematic research grant this year, said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while presiding over academicians’ meeting that discussed future research plan.
He said the University submitted ten research proposals to HEC for the next year under National Research Program for the Universities (NRP). There has been upward trend of winning research grants from national and international institutions in the recent years, he added.
Dr. Siddiqui said they have laid greater emphasis on research-based activities to improve the University’s academic ranking and maintain its learning standard in term of quality and productive.
Various incentives have been provided to the academic and non-academic staff to do research that benefit the society. “We want to promote research and practice in higher education sector.
We are engaged in promoting research culture in the country at the higher education level. It has already been decided to give cash prizes to best researchers, besides other incentives, for undertaking applied research,” he added.
A package of incentives has also been approved to encourage academicians to focus on research-based activities that benefit the society. The cash awards will be given for writing books and research articles.-DNA