Higher Education Commission

Higher Education Commission

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) was established in September, 2002 to facilitate the development of Local universities to be world-class centers of education and to improve and promote the higher education and research sector for the socio-economic development in the country. Details of various Programs of HEC from which Faculty of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) has gained benefits are listed below:-

National Research Program for Universities (NRPU)

Lack of research literature or equipment is one of the major obstacles that discourage the productivity of many talented and creative young faculty members/researchers in all disciplines in universities. These researchers sometimes need financial assistance in order to pursue their research work. When these facilities are not provided to these researchers, they get discouraged. In order to avoid such situations, HEC has initiated this program under which researchers are given research grants. These research grants are normally provided for one to three years. Under this program, financial support is provided for research projects in the areas of Sciences, Management Sciences, Engineering and Technology etc.

Only those faculty members and researchers, holding regular positions at public sector universities can get facilitated from this program. Research proposals for funding are reviewed at HEC and after receiving favorable recommendation of atleast two reviewers, the project is approved for funding. HEC provides research grants to a maximum of Rs.15 Million on the basis of the priority of the subject and quality of the project.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Research_Grant/nrpu.html

Approved/Ongoing Projects of CIIT

HEC Travel Grants to University Teachers & Ph.D Students

HEC has initiated a scheme that facilitates to consolidate the academics’ research experiences at national and international levels. The scheme deals with extending travel grants to the faculty of public sector universities and provides travel support to academics for going abroad and pursuing Ph.D studies.

Four provisions are available under this scheme: for presentation of paper in an international conference, for higher studies, for post-doctorial studies and for visits abroad under cultural exchange program. In order to get facilitated from this scheme, a prescribed application form is required to be filled with relevant information and supported documents as provided in checklist for the respective purpose. These applications must reach at R&D Division CIIT at least seven weeks before the proposed departure.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Conferences_and_Meetings/Travel_Grants_Teachers.html

Travel Grants Secured by CIIT

University-Industry Technology Support Program

Under this program, grants are awarded on competitive merit by HEC for high level and promising industrial research projects. The purpose of this grant is to promote the country’s scientific research and to strengthen the indigenous capacity for industrial competition in the world market.

This research grant is usually of two years with a budget up to Rs. 6 Million but in some cases, this budget can exceed to Rs. 8 Million as well. In order to be eligible for this grant, the candidates must have an advanced academic degree as well as relevant research experience. Prescribed Application Form can be downloaded from HEC website and can be submitted to R&D Division via mail/courier in the form of one hard copy and one soft copy (CD). A research proposal usually takes at least six months for approval after its submission to HEC.

Following two projects amounting to Rs.8.0 million have already been offered by HEC under this category. A number of other projects are under consideration.

Development of Tissue Culture Protocols and Methodology for Micro propagation of Tea Plant through Training-Utilizing the Manpower of Post graduate Students. This project costs Rs.5.071 Million.

Treatment of Textile Affluent by Combination of Ultrasonic Cavitations and Electrochemical Oxidation Process. This Project costs Rs.2.715 Million.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Research_Grant/UITSP.html

HEC Approved Ph.D Supervisors’ List

The approved Ph.D supervisor program was initially started by the University Grants Commission. Eventually, Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) became principal agency responsible for evaluating and approving faculty and researchers as Ph.D supervisors. However, PCST's emphasis was only on the discipline of Science and Technology. It was in February, 2004 when the whole program was taken over by HEC.

HEC supports the universities in attaining excellence in teaching and research in their respective areas of specialization and operation. In this regard, Ph.D scholarship programs are offered to promote research in all fields of studies. These Scholarship programs cannot be operational without having the cooperation and support of faculty members. The HEC funded Ph.D scholars need to register for their Ph.D work with HEC approved supervisors who are selected on the basis of their research publications and record.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/hrd/approved-supervisors/APD.html

HEC Approved Supervisors for CIIT

Grants for Organizing Seminars, Conference, Workshops etc

The main objective of this program is to encourage the universities to organize high level national, international and regional conferences, seminars and workshops etc. This program aims to disseminate the academic and research experiences / achievements at national and international level along with giving exposure of international community to the faculties and researchers working in their respective fields. HEC provides maximum assistance of Rs.1.5 Million for international events and Rs. 1 Million for national events. An application form is placed at the HEC website. These applications should reach R&D Division (CIIT) seven weeks before the proposed dates of event.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Conferences_and_Meetings/Grants_Confrence_Workshops.html

Grants Secured by CIIT

Foreign Faculty Hiring Program

In order to cope up with the shortage of qualified Ph.D supervisors, HEC has initiated Foreign Faculty Hiring Program (FFHP). Under this program, the salary of the faculty and research funds are provided by HEC and the services are utilized by the beneficiary host institution. As of today, CIIT has 19 Foreign Professors working at different campuses of the CIIT. The initial term of professors’ appointment is one year which is extendable to multiple years depending on their satisfactory performance. These foreign professors assist and devise mechanisms of establishing international academic standards and they bring improvement in these standards through knowledge.

Only those foreign professors having their Ph.D along with their post Ph.D teaching and research experience of 12 years, 6 years and 5 years are eligible under this program. All foreign nationals and Pakistani expatriate settled abroad are also eligible. There is no age limit but preference is only given to those professors who have been actively involved in research in the last five years. The consolidated salaries, based on the length of research experience, range from Rs.75,000 to Rs.240,000 per month.

In order to enable the foreign faculty to start their research activities, an amount up to Rs.1.0 Million is also provided to them for one time during their tenure. The startup research grants secured by various Foreign Faculty Professors amount to Rs.7.436 Million.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/hrd/faculty-programs.html

Foreign Faculty working in CIIT

Approved Startup Research Grant List

Short Term Foreign Faculty Hiring Program

The objectives of this program are same as the preceding program and both are for foreign faculty hiring except that this program is short-term based from 3 to 6 months. Under this program, foreign as well as expatriate Pakistani scientists and engineers may come to Pakistan on short-term assignments for at least one semester.

The applicants are required to be a Ph.D from an HEC recognized university and he/she must have working experience of three year post-doctorate foreign experience. Applicants must possess excellent verbal and written English Communication skills. The program is open to all disciplines and the position carries a handsome pay and benefits including boarding allowance @ Rs.850 per day.

During 2008, Dr. A. M. Saddiqui, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, USA visited the Department of Mathematic, CIIT, Islamabad from June to August 2008.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/hrd/faculty-programs/SFHP.html

Visiting Scholar Program

This program provides an opportunity for sharing of expertise and knowledge by the universities. To achieve the benefit of this program, visiting scholars are engaged to do graduate teaching and collaborative research and conduct workshops, seminars etc. The visiting scholar is required to be a Ph.D from HEC recognized university. The scholar must have served in a responsible teaching or research position at a reputable research institution in a foreign technologically advanced country.

Request is made by the host institution on the HEC prescribed application form along with a detailed resume of the visiting scholar and submitted to HEC through R&D Division at least three months prior to his/her visit. The term of appointment is two weeks which is extendable to eight weeks and the scholars are engaged for a maximum of two visits within a calendar year. A lump sum honorarium of Rs.20,000 is provided to the scholar on weekly basis.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/hrd/faculty-programs/VSP.html

Visitors under VSP

Grant for Maintenance of Scientific Equipment

This program is launched to provide funds for purchase of spare parts, repair, maintenance and up-gradation of expensive scientific laboratory equipment. Program is available to universities and faculty members working in the universities. The proposal for grant is furnished on the prescribed form carrying signature and official seal of the Head of the University. The proposal for an individual grant ranges from Rs.60,000 to Rs.1,000,000.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Scientific_Equipment_Libraries_Grant/Grants_Spareparts.html

Grants Received Under the Programme.

International Linkages of Pakistani Universities with Foreign Universities

The main objectives of the project are to create academic linkages between Pakistani higher learning institutions and foreign universities in various fields. This program is for researchers, faculty members and already enrolled Ph.D students at public sector universities and degree awarding institution.

Under this program project titled “Quantum Computing and Atomic Coherence Effects” by Dr. Manzoor Ikram, Centre for Quantum Physics, CIIT, Islamabad with the University of Texas A&M University, College Station Texas has been approved and ongoing. This project costs Rs.16.910 Million.

For further details please visit the link given below.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Others_RnD/Collaborative_Programs/ILPS.html

In addition to the funds received through the HEC for programmes listed above, the organization has also supported CIIT under various other programmes. Following useful and important links of HEC may also be visited to benefit from the offerings:

Post Doctorial Fellowship Programme

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/hrd/foreign-fellowships/PDFP.html

Partial Support for Ph.D Studies Abroad.

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Research_Grant/PS_PhD.html

Expansion Program for Hiring of Eminent Educationists and Researchers Having Ph.D Degree

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/hrd/faculty-programs/HEER.html

Pakistan Organization for Collaborative Research Programme

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Research_Grant/POCR.html

In-country Short-Term Teacher Exchange Programme

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Others_RnD/Faculty_Exchange_Programs/STEP.html

Training Programme for Technical & Scientific Staff & Researchers

Donor agency URL: http://hec.gov.pk/rnd/Others_RnD/Programs_for_Faculty_Members_and_Researchers/TTTSR.html