Message of Dr. Mudassar Asrar Chairperson Pakistan Council for Science and Technology

Good Morning Esteemed guests!

I welcome you all on the 2nd national global meeting of Young Science Societies. Scientific organizations have a special contribution to make the understanding of public issues involving science and technology, as well as a special responsibility to do so. First, the societies memberships include individuals with the necessary expertise to help clarify these issues. They also have the infrastructure and resources to bring together diverse groups of such experts. They have the ability to examine topics within their own areas of expertise and to identify what is scientific fact, what is scientific theory, and what is opinion unsubstantiated by data. In many cases, their biggest contribution may lie in identifying the limits of current knowledge, which helps put many issues in a better perspective. The diversity of societies allows more flexibility in program development. In many cases, existing mechanisms, such as publications and meetings, can be used for public outreach. These societies operate for a higher social purpose rather than merely serving the needs of a specialized constituency. This special status and combination of resources endows them with special obligations.

The perspective of this meeting is wider than the last year. This event will bring more close the student science societies as well as professionals science societies. The main objective of this meeting is to bring the activities of these scientific societies in a national stream from cluster activities.

This meeting will provide an arena in which those interested in the policy implications of science and technology, and the relationship between research expertise and public policy, can discuss and develop fresh ideas.

World Science Day is celebrated worldwide on 10 November each year. And this year the theme is “Quality Science Education: Ensuring a Sustainable Future for All.”

The word quality can be described in terms of five different approaches that are used in higher education. These are: Exception (High Standards), Consistency (Zero defects), Meeting the stated purposes, Value for money and Transformation of the participant (the value-added factor). It also refers to the four pillars of education: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and with others, and learning to be. In my opinion one of the prime goals of quality education is to build knowledge, life skills, perspectives, attitudes and values of the students to transform the society into a more productive, sustainable one. Quality education attempts to uphold and convey the ideals of a sustainable world. It takes into consideration the social, economic, and environmental contexts of the country and helps shape the curriculum or programme to reflect their respective unique conditions. Quality education, therefore, must be locally relevant and culturally appropriate. Enhanced quality of education also helps in setting the goals for formulating national planning through practical application of knowledge for solving the everyday problems of life. What is most important to ensure quality education is to set a long term national vision.

A smooth quality assurance system for higher education helps to inspire and create enthusiasm among the learners in their thoughts, deeds, and daily life to establish moral, humanitarian, religious, cultural and social values in personal as well as in national life. That means it gives conscious and careful attention to the development of cultured and respectable personalities in the true sense. Quality higher education develops leadership qualities in people of different professions and develops awareness in the learners to protect the independence, sovereignty and integrity of the country. A high quality assurance in education in Pakistan is not only imperative for her internal human resource management but also to survive, compete and succeed in the globally competitive educational environment. Although Pakistan has a huge population and has millions of unemployed youths who have completed degree level education, it has a perennial shortage of quality human resources. There is, therefore, a need for literate and skilled human resources to contribute to social and economic development. We can do all this and more if we work together to harness the power of science for the greater good everywhere, and promote evidence-based policy making.

At the end I thank you Technology Times and NAYS for organizing this knowledgeable meeting and thank you all for your participation.

By Web Team

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