HEC programme: PhD students await funds to continue study abroad.

LAHORE -- As many as 150 PhD students of International Research Support Initiative Programme (IRIP) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) are awaiting funds to travel abroad to continue their studies.

The HEC is offering a six-month research fellowship abroad to the students who are enrolled in full time PhD programmes in Pakistan. The initiative is aimed to provide exposure to the PhD scholars to enhance the quality of research they will be conducting in Pakistan. It also provides opportunities to develop linkages between local and foreign higher education institutions.

The programme's objectives include enhancing the quality of doctoral research in Pakistan to help create a critical mass of highly-qualified human resource that could contribute towards the development of the country, and facilitate assimilation, absorption and transfer of scientific and technological knowledge and information to achieve rapid economic progress.

It further includes provision of opportunities to doctoral students for training and research work at advanced research labs of reputed universities abroad and to interact with foreign scientists to explore avenues for further collaboration internationally, introduce Pakistani talent globally, disseminate information about research in Pakistan and bring...