PESHAWAR, March 27: The Vice Chancellor of Peshawar University, Mr Mumtaz Gul, has said that training workshops on specialised topics of science and technology are necessary for overall development as they lead to economic prosperity of a country. “Globalisation is a real challenge and it needs to be addressed comprehensively. Research in universities needs to be encouraged to face this challenge”, he said at a workshop on Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry at the Centre of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, Peshawar University. The workshop was organised by the centre in collaboration with the National Core Group in Chemistry and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad.

The VC said that basic sciences had always helped the human society gain a deep understanding of nature. Chemistry, being an important field of basic sciences, offered vast opportunities in various areas. It is important to achieve excellence in its different branches and universities should produce researchers and specialists who could play important role in knowledge driven economy.

He appreciated the contribution of the HEC in promotion of higher education and said the HEC was striving hard to improve the faculty and was helping universities in development of their infrastructures.

“Development budget of HEC has been increased manifold. This workshop is manifestation of commitment of the HEC towards an overall development of higher education in general and technology in particular”, he added.

The workshop was attended by teachers from various universities of the country. Dean Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences Dr Haroon Rashid, Director of the centre Syed Mustafa and faculty members were present on the occasion.

Earlier director of the centre highlighted aims and objectives of the workshop. He said primary objective of the workshop was to improve teaching skills and broaden knowledge of college and university teachers on the subject.