The Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Pakistan (IUCPSS) and Centre for Civic Education Pakistan singed memorandum of understanding (MoU) to undertake collaborative efforts for promotion of civic education in Pakistan.

The MoU singing ceremony was held on Sunday with renowned human rights activists including I A Rehman and Tahira Abdullah, Member HEC Dr. Nasser Ali Khan, Adviser HEC Dr. Riaz Hussain Qureshi, Senior Programme officer National Endowment for Democracy Wilson Lee present on the occasion.

The main avenues of mutual cooperation in the signed MoU include inviting faculty and research scholars in training and perspective sharing workshop, collaborating in research, seminars and conferences and other joint activities, working together for introducing diploma and certificate courses on civic and human rights education and sharing one another’s facilities and expertise. Both parties agreed to appoint Murtaza Noor as IUCPSS focal person for facilitation and coordination among IUCPSS member institutions and CCEP.

The IUCPSS is Pakistan’s first ever inter university alliance formed by 9 leading higher education institutions (HEIs). The Centre for Civic Education Pakistan is an independent educational institution singed memorandum of understanding MoU to undertake collaborative efforts for promotion of civic education in Pakistan.

Addressing the occasion, guest of honour Executive Director HEC Prof. Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi said that HEC is committed to promote social sciences in Pakistan and special programmes have been initiated in this connection during last ten years since inception of HEC. “The outcome of these initiatives is visible,s he said.

He also underlined close relationship between universities and civil society organizations to address the various social problems being confronted by the people of Pakistan. “Universities should produce such graduates who may also be a good citizen through upholding the values of tolerance, peace and respect for rights of other citizens. Therefore, I strongly recommend that civic education may be introduced at all level of education”, he added.

IUCPSS Chairperson and Vice Chancellor Islamia University Bahawalpur Prof. Dr Muhammad Mukhtar termed the agreement milestone in improve the state of civic education in Pakistan. He also assured utmost cooperation in achieving the objectives of the MoU. He announced that both the organizations would jointly work for introducing certificate and diploma courses on civic or human rights education.

Executive Director Centre for Civic Education Pakistan Zafarullah Khan hoped that the joint efforts by both the organizations would be greatly helpful in encouraging critical and creative ways of thinking and stimulating civic activism to promote pluralism, rule of law and good governance at the leading Pakistani universities.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nizamuddin Chairperson National Committee on Development of Social Sciences HEC and Vice Chancellor University of Gujrat termed the promotion of social sciences vital for the socio-economic development of the country.

He was of the view that inter university and inter organisation collaborations can be greatly helpful in this regard. Under facilitation of HEC, IUCPSS has been formed by nine renowned and prestigious higher educational institutions of Pakistan including Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, University of Gujrat, Government College University Faisalabad, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, University of Baluchistan Quetta, Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur and Comsats Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad.

One of main functions of the consortium includes establishing linkages with national and international organisations for improving social sciences, arts and humanities and research activities in Pakistan.