Islamabad : Pakistan's first-ever academic consortium established in the third week of January 2012 completed its eight years this week. Felicitation and appreciations have been pouring across the country on the past accomplishments of the organisation. The Inter-University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS) established under the facilitation of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan initially comprised of eight member universities with representation from all provinces.
On 23rd January 2012, the IUCPSS members gathered in the princely city of Bahawalpur in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur to affirm their commitments for enhancing collaboration and cooperation among universities across the country and exploring avenues of international cooperation. In a highly magnificent ceremony presided by Prof. Dr. Sohail Naqvi, then Executive Director of the HEC of Pakistan, the first-ever consortium among higher education institutes was borne.
Murtaza Noor was assigned the task of National Coordinator and then Vice Chancellor of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur was unanimously elected as the Founding Chairperson. Importantly, former Chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr. Nizamuddin, also led this commission for one year.
Starting from day one, this alliance of universities has played an essential role in fostering collaborations among higher education institutions. Several activities like holding of national, regional and international conferences, Vice-Chancellors meetings, seminars, workshops, networking events, student-centric programmes as well as creating linkages of member universities with leading international universities are being continuously held through IUCPSS platform.