Declaration demands increase in higher education budget

Islamabad
A declaration on strengthening social sciences issued by Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (IUCPSS) Pakistan on Saturday demanded increase in the budget of higher education.
The declaration widely endorsed and appreciated in higher education sector calls for establishing Pakistan Council of Social Sciences Research (PCSSR) as an autonomous organisation under the umbrella of IUCPSS, establishment of endowment fund for social sciences research, increase in proportion of social sciences disciplines in local and foreign scholarships and establishment of laboratories for research in this discipline in all universities of the country.
The academicians and civil society has termed the declaration a step forward towards the revival of social sciences in Pakistan. They hoped that relevant stakeholders and partner universities would undertake practical steps in effective follow of the salient features of the declaration.
The Declaration was issued by 20 vice chancellors and representatives of public and private higher education intuitions on Saturday during the annual meeting of the IUCPSS hosted by Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan.
Vice Chancellor of University of Peshawar and Chairman National Vice Chancellors Committee Prof. Dr. Rasul Jan said that the declaration is positive development for undertaking collaborative efforts for strengthening social sciences in Pakistan. He said that inter-university consortium would be supported and further strengthened.
Executive Director Centre for Civic Education Pakistan Zafar Ullah Khan and Secretary General Council of Social Sciences Dr. Nadeem Omar Tarar appreciated the efforts of IUCPSS for improving social sciences and assured their cooperation in implementation of the declaration.
Vice Chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and host of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali said that every sort of possible support would be provided to the consortium and a working group comprising of heads of IUCPSS member universities would be established in order to take up the recommendations with the stakeholders and follow up of the decisions.
The declaration further says that following worldwide patterns and global practices, the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (IUCPSS) as an autonomous organisation, would continue its contribution, under the leadership of current chairman Dr. Nasser Ali Khan, towards strengthening Social Sciences at regional and national level, with close liaison with its partner organisations.
It adds that though social sciences, art and humanities have been accorded importance globally, it has been neglected in Pakistan. The consortium would complement the efforts being undertaken for promotion of social sciences at international, national and provincial levels.
The document acknowledged the contribution and dynamic leadership of former Vice Chancellor Islamia University of Bahawalpur Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar and former Vice Chancellor, University of Gujrat and first Chairperson of Punjab Higher Education Commission Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin. In light of growing desire and demand by Pakistani universities, the declaration confirms the expansion of IUCPSS’s associate membership and partnership and says that an international social sciences conference would also be organized in June, 2015.