AIOU to hold moot on ‘Research in Education’

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will hold here a first-ever international conference on ‘Research and Practices in Education’.
The major purpose of the conference is to provide researchers and practitioners a platform to present their recent work and to interact with fellows in global community.
It also aimed at promoting research culture in the country at the higher education level. It is part of the university’s ongoing efforts, sharing mutual knowledge and experiences at national and international level for promoting applied research, said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui.
Necessary preparations are afoot to hold this mega event in the beginning of 2016. So far more than 100 abstracts have been received. It is hoped that this event will be source of networking as well as sharing ideas for collaborative efforts for the purpose of sustainable development through education and research.
It is being arranged by Faculty of Education, which has been on forefront in producing research graduates of masters, M.Phil and PhD in five specialisations i.e. Teacher Education, Science Education, Special Education, Educational Planning & Management and Distance & Non-formal Education.
The university in its educational pursuits has focused on research-based education at all levels. The vice chancellor has announced to constitute a special fund for promotion of research-based projects. It has already been decided to give cash prizes to best researchers, besides other incentives, for undertaking applied research that helps in addressing socio-economic problems of the country as well as improving quality of life.
A package of incentives has been approved to encourage its academicians to focus on research-based activities that benefits the society. The cash awards will be given for writing worthwhile books and research articles.
The university will also bear travelling and lodging expenses of its teaching staff for attending seminars and conference home and abroad. The research-package is aimed at gearing up development at various levels through new inventions and to enhance academicians’ role in policy-making.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui underlined the need of strengthening linkage between research institutions and those who are responsible for implementation. Research is phenomena that do not occur in isolation, it must be linked with the society. Dr. Siddiqui said that the universities should be known for their research work.