The purpose of the programme is to embed excellent doctoral programmes in several new public sector universities in Pakistan. Dr Anne Gold and Dr Denise Hawkes from University College London Institute of Education, UK are the resource persons for the workshop. Professor Dr Tariq Mahmood, Adviser R&D, HEC, welcomed the participants and delegation from UK. During his welcome address, he highlighted HEC's initiatives to strengthen the indigenous capacity and raise the overall standard of teaching and research. The Quaid-e-Azam University and University of Karachi gave their presentations followed by the other universities' presentations on their doctoral provision.
The way forward to embed excellent doctoral programmes in newer public sector universities in Pakistan and to strengthen other existing programmes would be announced at the end of the programme. The University College London Institute of Education together with the Association of Commonwealth Universities will work in partnership with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and the British Council, Pakistan.
The project will offer an unusual "cross-fertilisation" of ideas, knowledge and experience and ultimately each government university will be poised to take the work further into their own regions. Through the project, doors will be opened for more students to access high-quality doctoral programmes, thus strengthening universities, producing important in-country research and ensuring a larger group of home based researchers and academics. The intended goals of the project include the longer-term expansion of the programme to other universities in Pakistan, and ultimately to other countries in South Asia, where improved doctoral capacity could be supported through a partnership model as for this project.-PR