Talented Researcher Programme in UK

600 scholars to be trained
Islamabad, June 19: As many as 14 researchers, who have attended Talented Researcher Programme (TRP) in the UK, would train more than 600 scholars through various workshops in order to enhance indigenous research culture in Pakistan.

The proposals regarding workshop was presented in a round-table organised by British Council in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) as a part of agreement they signed according to which BC would be funding the project while HEC would be responsible for its management.

The Talented Researcher Programme (TRP) is part of the 'Inspire' initiative from the British Council which aims to increase the sharing of ideas, knowledge and expertise through international research and teaching collaboration between the UK and selected countries in the Central & South Asia Region - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

The purpose of the Talented Researcher Programme is to support early stage researchers, aimed mainly at doctorate and postgraduate level students. It aims to equip individuals with valuable skills they need to build international research careers, sustain research networks and to encourage international collaboration.

In this connection BC had organised a workshop in United Kingdom (UK) in February 2010 for early stage researchers in inter-cultural communication, project management fort sustainable international collaboration, techniques in bidding for external sources of funding, strategic skills; influencing, negotiating, presenting and embedding international partnership.

As many as 14 participants were nominated to attend the workshop in Windsor UK. BC and HEC plans to use the participants of Windsor chapter as Master Trainers and proceed with cascading workshops in Higher Education Institutions across Pakistan.

The aims and objectives of the workshop would be to impart necessary knowledge among participants for building successful international research careers besides sharing knowledge from experts regarding sustainability of research finding and international projects. The news

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Students protest 'strip search' by PU team
Rawalpindi: Candidates of B Com part-II paper, assigned Islamia High School No 4 Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi as examination center, blocked Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road Friday in protest against improper attitude of Special Monitoring Team of Punjab University during the course of examination. They alleged that during paper, the team raided the examination centre and took off their trousers and even underwears of certain in the name of search. In retaliation, the angry students left the paper incomplete; gathered at the BBS Road and blocked traffic for about 10 minutes. Later on, the police reached the spot and break up the protestors. City Police SHO Israr Satti called on students to police station on Saturday to record their statements. No arrests were reported till filing of this story. Talking to the media, the students said taking off the cloths of students in the examination hall is such a shameful act that mere condemnation is not enough to make up for. "By doing such disgraceful deed, they not only put down students in the eyes of their companions but also mocked the high human and ethical values," they said. Monitoring Team Member Syed Ali Raza said no one was undressed and the students' allegations lacked substance. He said the raid was conducted on a tip-off that the 'copy mafia' was active in the centre and they have confiscated copying martial and mobile phones in large number from the students. Daily times

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Missing record: PMDC official sent to jail
Rawalpindi: A magistrate here on Friday sent the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) assistant registrar to Adiala jail on judicial remand for 14 days after the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) did not seek his custody.

Magistrate Nadeem Yousaf Warraich remanded Assistant Registrar Mohammad Bashir when the ACE investigators said they had completed the interrogation about the missing files of two brothers who were granted eligibility certificates against fake MBBS degrees.

Advocate Malik Qamar Afzal, who is representing the accused, argued that ACE could not arrest Mohammad Bashir as he was an employee of a federal department and only the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) could question him.

Punjab province's ACE arrested Mr Bashir on June 14 after it was revealed that he had declared Salahuddin and Naseeruddin eligible to sit in the national examination board, a pre-requisite for foreign MBBS degree holders to get registered with the PMDC as doctor.

On the basis of these eligibility certificates, the two brothers applied for appointment in Rawalpindi's District Headquarters DHQ hospital as doctors and later their MBBS degrees along with those of others were found to be fake.

ACE investigation officer Asif Iqbal said that the assistant registrar who served before Mohammad Bashir had put up objections to the applications of two brothers, raising doubts on their qualifications but Mr Bashir granted the eligibility without addressing the objections.

The official said ACE came to known about some 20 missing files of doctors with foreign degrees and sought the custody of Mohammad Bashir for allegedly hiding the record of the two brothers.

PMDC secy's defence
Islamabad: An inquiry committee constituted by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to investigate charges against its secretary, Dr Sohail Karim Hashmi, has given the official another 15 days to submit his written defence.

The secretary has been accused of legal, financial and administrative irregularities, sources said.

Dr Hashmi has already consumed 15 days given to him for submitting his written defence.

A meeting of the inquiry committee was held last week to give Dr Hashmi a hearing, but the proceedings were adjourned on the account that secretary had not prepared his defence.

The secretary was served order of inquiry along with statement of allegations and the charge sheet well before time, but he declined to submit a defence.

Through a letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, the secretary challenged the position of acting PMDC president Dr Asim Hussain, terming his appointment unlawful.

The secretary alleged that the acting president was not a competent authority according to law, therefore, he could not issue such orders.

While in his reply, the acting president termed secretary's allegation an attempt to evade the inquiry proceedings and to escape the process of accountability. He said he was elected after due procedure, which was also notified by the Ministry of Health. Dawn

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FJWU students urged to focus on studies
Islamabad: Women Research and Resource Centre of the Fatima Jinnah University organized a forum to discuss gender and women issues and this time the Center had invited wife of the Indonesian Ambassador Butar Latuconsina for an interview and lecture to inform participants of the forum about social issues and status of the women in her country.

Butar Latuconsina, who was warmly welcomed by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan and other faculty members, was also interviewed by the University's Radio VOW. Dr Maryam Rab briefed the visiting guest about the university and while Dr Shamim M Zaidi delivered her vote of thanks.

She said education is something that women just cannot compromise on if they wanted to be financially independent in odd times. The ambassador's spouse said that she continued her studies and completed her degree in Mass Communication even after she had joined Indonesian Navy as first lieutenant and married Ambassador Ishak Latuconsina. Daily times

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