September 09, 2006	Saturday	Sha'aban 15, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: For the promotion of social sciences and humanities, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has constituted a new committee headed by National Commission for Government Reforms chairman Dr Ishrat Hussain, says a statement issued here on Friday.

Dr Ishrat Hussain lauded the performance of previous committee and appreciated former members for their valuable contributions. Afterwards, he opened the forum to the members for their suggestions and recommendations.

Fatima Jinnah Women University Vice-Chancellor Dr Najma Najam, former chairperson of the committee, briefed the new committee members about the progress and achievements made in the last years.

She said the committee took keen interest in the revival and uplift of social sciences and humanities and since its inception in 2003, the committee had tried its level best to revive the decline in the sector by assisting and designing PC-I of projects including Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the strengthening of social sciences departments.

The meeting discussed different issues and ways to improve the plight of social sciences and humanities and suggested certain steps to improve the quality of education and develop research culture in the universities.

They were of the view that certain incentives may be given to faculty members through salary increase and review of present retirement age. Coordination between university administration and teaching staff should also be improved, they suggested.

The committee after detailed deliberations suggested that a survey of the existing state of social sciences departments in universities should be conducted.

A database of this information has to be developed and gap analysis needs to be performed afterwards. A subcommittee for the said purpose headed by Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik was formed, while Dr Inayatullah and Dr Nilofer Shaikh were nominated as its members.

The quality of social sciences faculty has also to be assessed and a need analysis exercise is required to identify areas where adequate number of quality faculty is not available, they said.

Attention has to be paid to the sub-sectors of all disciplines. Another subcommittee for this purpose was constituted and Dr Manzoor Ahmed was nominated its head with Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed as its member.

Various subcommittees were also formed for recommending quality journals in respective disciplines. The names of the heads of subcommittees are Dr Asad Zaman (Economics), Dr Najma Najam (Psychology), Dr Jaffar Ahmed (Pakistan Studies/Political Science), Dr Qalb-i-Abid (History), Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema (International Relations), Dr Ghazala Irfan (Philosophy) and Dr Raja Nasim Akhtar (English).