Peshawar: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Regional Centre in Peshawar organized an orientation session aimed at enhancing research capabilities among faculty and researchers from universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The session, titled “NRPU Overview, Evaluation Parameters and Strategies for Winning Research Grant,” focused on guiding participants through the intricacies of the National Research Programme for Universities (NRPU).

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Nauman Ahmed Khan, Director/In-charge of HEC Regional Centre Peshawar. He underscored the significance of research funding in driving innovation and academic growth and urged researchers to seize the opportunities provided by the NRPU. He reaffirmed HEC’s dedication to fostering a robust research culture in academic institutions.

The session included detailed presentations by resource persons who outlined the objectives, eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, and application procedures of the NRPU. They discussed the evaluation parameters for research proposals, emphasizing originality, relevance, scientific merit, methodology, feasibility, and potential impact.

Practical strategies for developing competitive proposals were also shared, with a focus on identifying significant research issues, aligning projects with national priorities, and demonstrating expected outcomes. Participants were advised on common shortcomings in grant applications and ways to enhance proposal quality.

The interactive nature of the session allowed researchers to seek expert advice on proposal development and the NRPU evaluation process. The initiative was well-received, with participants expressing confidence in preparing stronger proposals for future funding opportunities. The event concluded with a question-and-answer session and expressions of gratitude towards the resource persons and attendees.