QUETTA: A two-day special meeting of the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS) issued the Gwadar Declaration which called for increasing allocation of funds for socials sciences, establishment of a national academy of social sciences, strengthening of existing social sciences research journals and promotion of inter-provincial collaboration and sharing of expertise in the higher education sector.

The concluding meeting on Friday was attended by 26 vice chancellors and representatives of various national and international organisations.

The meeting was hosted by the University of Turbat and was presided over by Chairman of Inter-University Consortium and Vice Chancellor of University of Haripur Dr Nasser Ali Khan.

Various issues and proposals for strengthening social sciences in the country, especially in Balochistan, were discussed at the meeting.

The IUCPSS is an autonomous organisation which follows international patterns for the strengthening of social sciences in the country in liaison with its partner organisations.

The Gwadar Declaration has suggested various measures and steps for the promotion of higher education in the country. It said the consortium would extend cooperation for preservation of archaeological sites, establishment of museums and promotion of tourism in Balochistan through a group of archaeologists led by Prof Dr Ihsan Ali (SI), vice chancellor of the University of Mardan.

In this regard, two museums will initially be established, in Lasbela and Khuzdar.

On the request of the Balochistan chief minister, the consortium’s member universities will offer admissions and scholarships to youths from Balochistan in those disciplines which are not being offered at higher education institutions of Balochistan in addition to existing reserved seats. Each member institution will offer five full-time new scholarships to students from Balochistan each year.

As per an MoU signed between the IUCPSS and the American Institute of Pakistan Studies, a consortium of 35 leading American universities, effective representation of faculty from Balochistan would be ensured in all ongoing joint programmes: dissertation writing workshops for doctoral candidates, thematic workshops for faculty mentoring and social science faculty placements at the US universities.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has lauded the Gwadar Declaration and the roadmap for strengthening of social sciences in Pakistan.

He hoped that the youth of Balochistan would benefit from the scholarships and admission to be offered by the member institutions of the IUCPSS.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2015

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