HEC Confers Research and Teaching Awards

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The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan recognized the country’s top academic talent by conferring seven Research Awards and three Best University Teachers Awards at a prestigious ceremony held at the HEC Secretariat on Tuesday. The event celebrated excellence in Pakistan’s academic landscape and aimed to promote a culture of impactful research in higher education.

Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of HEC, was the chief guest at the event, joined by Executive Director Dr Zia Ul-Qayyum, Member Research and Innovation Dr Bushra Mirza, and senior members of the HEC management. The recipients were presented with cash prizes in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research and education.

The Research Awards were divided into three categories: Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences. Each category further included sub-categories for Best Publication, Best Research, and Best Young Researcher, following a rigorous review process.

In the Social Sciences category, Dr Nadia Agha from Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur won the award for Best Publication. Dr Jawad Sarwar from Lahore University of Management Sciences was named Best Researcher, while Dr Mahnaz Mansoor from Hamdard University took home the Best Young Researcher prize.

In the Physical Sciences category, the award for Best Publication went to Dr Muhammad Ikram from Government College University Lahore, Dr Haq Nawaz Bhatti from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad won Best Researcher, and Dr Kashif Ishaque from Muhammad Ali Jinnah University received the Best Young Researcher accolade.

For the Life Sciences category, Dr Shah Fahad from the University of Haripur was awarded Best Young Researcher.

The Best University Teacher Awards were presented to three distinguished educators for their excellence in teaching and commitment to education. The awards were conferred in different academic fields: Ms. Ruqia Bibi from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Peshawar in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category; Dr Muhammad Ali Chughtai from Gandhara University, Peshawar in the Life Sciences and Medicine category; and Dr Saleema Ahsan from Iqra University, Karachi in the Social Sciences and Humanities category for the year 2023.

During his address, Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed emphasized the role of academia in addressing the nation’s challenges and encouraged the higher education community to focus on societal impact rather than just academic metrics. “We have come a long way since HEC’s inception in 2002, with a significant rise in the number of educational institutions and research publications. However, it is crucial that academia plays its due role in solving the country’s pressing issues. It is high time we shift from the impact factor race to creating real impact in society,” he remarked.

He also thanked the team of reviewers and the HEC team for conducting the rigorous selection process to identify the best researchers and teachers.

In her welcome remarks, Member Research and Innovation Dr Bushra Mirza highlighted the significance of research in driving societal change. She explained how HEC has fostered a research ecosystem within the higher education sector, noting that prior to HEC’s establishment, there was limited research culture in Pakistan. “While we are still evolving, now is the time to focus on applied research for the betterment of society,” she stated.

She elaborated that the Best Teacher Award was introduced in 2003, with each university nominating its best teacher every year. Since 2019, however, only three winners have been selected at the national level. The Research Awards, initiated in 2009, have now honored 272 outstanding researchers for their contributions.

The awards ceremony marks another milestone in HEC’s efforts to recognize and incentivize high-quality research and teaching, reinforcing the importance of academia in Pakistan’s development journey.