Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad, highlighted the crucial role of research in PhD programs for advancing national development. While speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a smart classroom at the Umerkot campus of Sindh Agriculture University, he urged academic and administrative heads to align research with national priorities, particularly focusing on sectors such as food security and agriculture.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed emphasized the need to break away from conventional methods employed in academia and research over the past 76 years. He stressed the importance of aligning the research topics of PhD degrees with national development goals, specifically in areas like food security, agricultural production, value chains, seed development, and veterinary vaccines. The Chairman urged institutions to enhance their efficiency in research expansion.
Expressing concern over the sheer volume of research papers being published, Chairman HEC urged a shift towards research that brings tangible national benefits. He acknowledged the role of the 262 universities across the nation in fulfilling their responsibilities in higher education and announced that the HEC is prepared to provide grants for interdisciplinary and applied research initiatives.
During his visit to Sindh Agriculture University and Umerkot Campus, Chairman HEC commended the leadership of Dr. Fateh Marri, the Vice Chancellor, for significant improvements in the university and its campuses. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Marri for providing leadership to HEC during a challenging phase.
Dr. Fatah Marri, the Vice Chancellor of SAU, highlighted the pivotal role of agricultural development in addressing economic challenges. He emphasized the university's focus on areas such as seed improvement, animal breeding, value addition, arid and urban agriculture, and agricultural financing. Dr. Fatah Marri called for a shift in the youth mindset towards market-oriented agricultural education and self-employment opportunities, emphasizing the importance of industry-academia collaboration for export-oriented trends.
Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Jan Mohammad Marri underscored the promising research opportunities in agriculture and medicinal plants within the Tharparkar region. He highlighted the significance of establishing a modern scientific academic and research environment to facilitate students' exploration of these fields.
