TMCnet News
Fellowship on federalism: HEC, UNDP offer 12 indigenous scholarships(Express Tribune (Pakistan) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched 12 indigenous scholarships for students pursuing MPhil in local universities and degree-awarding institutes. A ceremony for the recipients of the "HEC-UNDP Fellowship on Federalism" was held at the HEC headquarters on Tuesday. HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed was the chief guest while UNDP Country-Director Marc-Andre Franche was the guest of honour. The selected scholars, who have already been enrolled in different universities for MPhil programmes, were undertaking research on subjects including the federation after the 18th Amendment, political economy of decentralisation in southern Punjab, fiscal federalism in Pakistan, the 18th Amendment and development outcomes through LG systems with a case study of decentralisation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, analysis of the 7th NFC with reference to Balochistan, devolution plan of 2001 and its implications on district bureaucracy, politics of provincial autonomy and community mobilisation. A total of 36 applicants had been applied for the programme, of them 12 scholars were awarded the fellowship. Scholars from Punjab, K-P, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, who are studying in the Government College University Lahore, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Islamabad, University of Peshawar, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad, Quaid-i-Azam University and the International Islamic University Islamabad, have been awarded the scholarships. Dr Ahmed lauded UNDP's role to encourage research on important national issues and assured scholars of HEC's full support in their further endeavours if they come up with quality research work. The UNDP country-director said the study of federalism has gained significance at the global level. He said the creation of knowledge was imperative for sustaining federalism, adding that indigenous research was crucial for that purpose. Marc said federalism connects diverse societies and the 18th amendment was a landmark political consensus in Pakistan. Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2014. |