Vice Chancellor inaugurates workshop, "Selection of dissertation topics"

Today's world is changing and developing at an unprecedented speed. The walls of tradition and economic barriers between counties are being torn down, boundaries are being extended, and the world is progressing towards a global consciousness and sense of community. Technological, cultural and business advances have done much to ensure that we are all part of an international community, and today employers are being encouraged to think global. Students wishing to prepare themselves for the challenges of the future are seeking an international perspective to their degree. Therefore, the universities must play the role of agents of change in their area of jurisdiction. This was stated by Prof. Dr. Syed Sakhawat Shah, Vice Chancellor Hazara University Mansehra on the inaugural ceremony of the workshop tilted "selection of dissertation topics", organised by Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar at its Baragali Campus. He further elaborated that universities have played and will continue to play a dynamic role in making the heterogeneous societies more tolerable, harmonious for a collective welfare and betterment of our societies. The durable relation of man with society based on respect, equality and humanity is promoting a global culture of human dignity on the basis of the individuals� productivity for the society, which is also why many universities of international repute offer plenty of scholarships to attract talented and capable minds to compete in the world of excellence. Let us keep the doors of our universities open to attract the best minds to enrich the world of visionary ideas for the improvements of our knowledge economy and society. Therefore, our research topics should have an international perspective. This workshop carries great significance dealing with �selection of dissertation topics.� The Universities across the world have assumed the productive role of generating useful knowledge to fight the menace of poverty, ignorance, diseases and economic deprivation. By the research directed against these specific targets we shall have to promote the demonstration of facts through impartial objective observation. Higher Education Commission has played a very leading role to sponsor scholarships for the development of faculty and contributing a lot toward their PhD studies in the prestigious universities of the world. The HEC has sponsored the researchers and PhD studies of hundreds of scholars who are now returning to Pakistan with remarkable knowledge of research and discoveries to create a culture of qualitative research in our universities. I appeal to these new comers to share their research techniques, selection of research topics, writing of dissertation and theses with their counterparts in Pakistan. There is no dearth of talent among our PhD scholars and faculty and I believe that their sincere involvement would bring a far reaching changes in our existing academic and research scenario. He continued that it is very encouraging to note that this workshop is going to enhance the capacity of researchers in �Selection of Research topics, research methods and writing MPhil/PhD proposals/dissertation. Directing the attention of participants towards these parameters would make the results very productive in solving our social economic problems. Creation of knowledge is one of the basic assignment or responsibility of a university professor, which is possible only research. Now, the emphasis is on applied researched based or community needs, social, economics & justice. In this regard the research achievements of Dr. Muhammad Younas are classical examples whose micro financing research was targeted to solve the financial problems of extremely deprived and poor population of rural areas. He established a network of Grammin banks advancing small loans to poor, boosting the cottage industries, handicrafts and small business generating income to support the family. A great change was thus brought in by alleviating the poverty. In recognition of his valuable research, he was awarded the noble peace prize. He stressed upon the participants that let us contribute more & more to the research pool of the world and become a part of this great treasure by adopting a planned methodical and investigative approach to decode the mysteries and secrets surrounding the apparent phenomenon. Knowledge is universal and all should share its benefits. The publishing of research papers in social sciences needed to be encouraged. These research papers be got reviewed by principle of peer review - that a paper must be assessed by independent experts as the benchmark through which claims are vetted for credibility. Dr. Shah added that social sciences have always played an important role to define the national character of a society. Multidisciplinary approach for research in this field is an urgent need. It will certainly address the contemporary social, economic, political, cultural and environmental problems faced by us. We need broader collaboration among the universities for dynamic role of research. It will pave way for comprehensive development of courses and will improve the capacity of research both of faculty and scholars. In this regard we shall have to adopt latest research tools, conceptual framework and scientific analysis of social problems. Thus, the meaningful direction of our research will resurrect the permanent values of life like humanitarian feelings, sharing and caring for the fellow beings, joining together the vast empire of human society, honesty, sacrifice. With meaningful and objective research methodology we can forge the broken links to revive our moral, social, ethical and humanitarian values by exploring the dustbin of bygone ages with reference to Archaeology, History and Literature etc. to give a sense of direction to achieve our destination. Earlier, the Director Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar Prof. Dr. Sarfraz Khan briefed the participants about the aims & objectives of the workshop. Eminent scholars and researchers from all over the universities of Pakistan also participated in the workshop. At the end of the workshop, on June 18, 2011 all the participants will visit Hazara University.

ASC to assist scholars for Ph.D enrollment

Peshawar—Area Study Centre (ASC) University of Peshawar will assist research scholars of M.Phil and Ph.D enrolled in various universities of the country.
It has been observed that scholars of faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Science enrolled in various research institutions of Pakistan find it difficult to select a research topic and writing research proposal/dissertations.
To know how much to focus on conceptual innovation, methodological rigor, and rich, substantive content, becomes a gigantic question for them. The ability to think critically is essential. New things are being discovered and explored almost each day.
The Area Study Centre is organizing a weeklong workshop on “Selection of Research Topic, Research methods and Writing M Phil,/Ph. D. Research Proposals/Dissertations”.
Higher Education Commission & Hanss Seidel Foundation, Islamabad have provided support for this workshop to be held from June 13 to 18, at Bara Gali, Summer Campus of the University of Peshawar.

Prof. Dr. Syed Sakhawat Shah, Vice Chancellor, Hazara University, Mansehra will inaugurate the workshop on June 14 at 10:00 A.M. Prof. Dr. Azmat Hayat Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Peshawar will be chief guest during concluding session of the workshop on June 17.
In this workshop, 75 students, enrolled in M Phil.,/Ph. D., from 13 departments of Peshawar University and Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad have been registered to participate.Many more could not be registered owing to limited space and resources.
The resource persons of the research workshop include researchers and professors of Peshawar and Quaid-i-Azam University.
Director Area Study Centre (Central Asia), University of Peshawar, Prof. Dr. Sarfraz Khan has given solemn pledge that workshop will become a regular feature.
Next year another such event would be held with the assistance of HEC for the remaining research students.

Vice Chancellor honors first ever convocation at Women Degree College Abbottabad

The nation need best students to become best teachers and scientists in our universities and college to compete in the rapidly developing world where frontier of knowledge is expanding at an exceptional rate. Only the best teaching brains can face and handle the challenges of the miraculous progress through research and mutual collaboration with the greatest minds of the world. This was stated by Prof. Dr. Syed Sakhawat Shah, Vice Chancellor Hazara University Mansehra on the eve of first ever convocation of Govt. Women Degree College Mandian Abbottabad. He said that it is time to recognize that education and federal mindset cannot go together. Even after 64 years of our independence it is shocking that 25 million children of school going age do not get the opportunity of even the primary education which makes Pakistan a disastrous zone. In the global ranking if illiteracy we are a disgraceful state. It has never been realized that only the mothers who are education one can bring about a positive change in the education of society. Our budgetary allocations that are less than 1.5% of the GDP can hardly improve the situation. The decisive force of human resource development through education and training coupled with possession of technology could only rescue us from the present dilemma. He stressed upon the students that the stream of innovative learning, experiences, and intellectual inquiry, which you carry from this college, will make your career brighter and ore promising by winning the credibility of the degree. Let me remind you that learning is a lifelong process and will not end by getting the degree. On the other hand it has just begun. You will have to update your knowledge in the rapidly changing world around you and make your scholarship relevant to the needs of the time. Keep yourself abreast with books to come in contact with the condensed wisdom of the ages for decoding the mystery of life and solving the baffling problems faced by the human race. He said many avenues are open to you and serve the country as professors, doctors, engineers, civil servants, officers of armed forces, bankers, mangers and all the other related fields of public importance. Population wise women are more that 50% and the education women can play a major role to strengthen the country. Ms. Farah Hamid, Secretary Higher Education Department Peshawar, Registrar, Controller of Examinations and Public Relations Officer, Hazara University and professors, parents and students participated in the convocation. The passed-out graduates of science and arts group for the year 2008-09-10 were awarded 140 degrees.

Vice Chancellor inaugurates function about biodiversity at Abbottabad

Pakistan is a signatory to the International Convention on Biodiversity as such we are bound to look into the situation of Biodiversity in Pakistan and devise strategies for its sustainability and passing on these precious natural resources to the coming generations in a better side. Pakistan, is spectacular in having Wide geographical diversity ranging from zero meters at the sea level to the world’s second highest mountain peak K2, World’s famous Hindu Kush, Himalayas and Karakurum meets here, two great ancient civilizations: Indus Valley and Gandhara flourished here, Eighth Wonder of the world, i.e. the famous Silk Route makes the area as tourists’ paradise. This was stated by Prof. Dr. Syed Sakhawat Shah, Vice Chancellor Hazara University Mansehra in a function regarding biodiversity of Pakistan arranged by Pakistan Science Foundation at Govt. Postgraduate College Abbottabad. Dr. Shah said that besides other natural
 resources, Pakistan has immense biodiversity resources. The country has widespread 9 agro ecological regions, from which at least 6000 plant species, including 1000 medicinal plants have been reported. More than 20, 0000 species of insects, 195 mammals, 666 birds and 72 reptiles are making it ecosystems productive and many more plants & animals are yet to be explored here. All these facts have placed Pakistan as central location among Pale arctic, Oriental, African Zoogeographic and Sino-Japanese Regions. The Vice Chancellor further emphasizes that the country is also blessed with some of the world’s famous ecosystems e.g. the Mangroo Forest Ecosystem, the Chalghoza Forest Ecosystem of Suleman ranges, the Western Himalayan Moist Temperate Ecosystem of Hazara and adjoining areas of Malakand. All these ecosystems and the associated biodiversity had led to the birth of the famous ancient civilizations here. He stressed upon the participants that mother
 earth is once again exposed to the accelerated extinction rate of biodiversity resources due to its irrational use. Conservation biologists describe the Sixth Extinction as the extinction of biodiversity resources due to the exploitative use of nature by the human race. Let we shoulder the world scientific community to minimize the threats towards extinction of genes, species and ecosystems. We are facing the challenges of maintaining, protecting, recovering and rehabilitation of our biological resources, to develop Pakistan’s economy and environment. Lack of information about biodiversity all over the world results in little public awareness and input in this direction. Although animal and plant systematic constitute a part of curriculum at University level, public at large remains quite ignorant about the biodiversity present around them and fail to understand its importance for their well-being. Overpopulation, with consequent urbanization,
 deforestation, climate change, natural hazards like earthquake, thunderstorm, floods and wars also damaged our ecosystem and biodiversity badly.  As a consequence, there is a massive loss of plant biodiversity and several plant species are at the risk of extinction. There is an acute need to educate public in general and young students in particular about the biodiversity around them and emphasize its importance in terms of economics and environment. The formal education can be imparted at school, college and /or university level. Indeed almost all schools and colleges are now introducing environmental studies as part of their curriculum. The informal education can and is being imparted through mass media, both print and audiovisual, therefore I believe that Traveling Expo will be extremely useful for all scientists, students, teachers, general public and conservationists for better planning for   Biodiversity Conservation. Therefore this expo shall
 highlight the importance of Biodiversity conservation and role of international community for conservation of biodiversity to develop a sustainable way of using it for today and the future. Hazara University being the custodian of the biodiversity resources of the Western Himalayas is taking every possible step to promote the cause of natural conservation of the region. Hazara University is exploring ways to conserve nature for better future of the present and coming generations. Our scientist has got the capability of exploring the living world, from viruses to human being. You would be glad to know that the results coming out of the research labs of Hazara University are appreciated at the highly reputed national and international fora.