Islamabad: Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Engineer Muhammad Balighur Rehman on Thursday called for inter-disciplinary research and said solutions to contemporary issues lied in the integrated, holistic and collaborative approach.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘One-Health Fellowship Programme’ jointly organised by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and US National Academy of Sciences (US-NAS) here.
The minister appreciated the collaborative efforts of the PAS and US-NAS and said it was promising to see academic institutions work together and share knowledge and technology to resolve global issues.
He said One-Health Research Fellowship initiative recognised the significance of the integrated, holistic and collaborative approach.
The minister said the government acknowledged the importance of research and development, which was evidenced by the highest amount of research grant given by the government to universities in the country’s history.
He said the government had also focused its attention on the teaching of mathematics and science subjects in schools.
“We are participating in the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) assessment programme in its 2019 Cycle which will guide our efforts for further improving Mathematics and Science curriculum in schools,” he said.
The minister said the ‘one-health’ concept recognises that the health of human beings was connected to the health of animals and the environment and that an integrated approach was needed to control and prevent diseases.
He said the One-Health Fellowship Programme was a 12-month research programme for capacity building of early to mid-career scientists from Pakistan wherein Pakistani scientists would be paired with the US experts/mentors to work on the one-health related research at national and international laboratories.
The minister said five scientists from across the country had been selected after rigorous tests and interviews to proceed for research under the programme, which was aimed at solving global health issues through international, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach.