The 13th National Research Conference on Management, Computer, and Social Sciences organized by SZABIST-Islamabad from June 28-30, 2011, concluded successfully, with a variety of research topics discussed and appraised. SZABIST strive to instill a truly research-oriented core into our various academic programs and research activities. For this purpose, the biannual NRC serves as a medium for students, academicians and researchers from a variety of Pakistani universities to present and defend their scholarly works in the fields of Managment, Social Sciences, and Computer Sciences.

The 13th NRC began with a welcome note from the Director, Mr. Syed Asad Hussain. He underscored the need for focused research to obtain solutions for increasingly complex real-world problems. He also pointed to the special focus directed towards research at SZABIST, which has resulted in a number of publications from faculty and students in HEC-recognized journals over the past year. Finally, he highlighted the need for industry-academia collaboration to synergize the efforts of both.

The Guest of Honor, Director General Administration & Procurement, Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), Brig. Mirza Saleem Beig, also addressed the audience. He envisioned that collaboration between academia and field experience will have a fruitful impact on thought-processes, policy matters, and research on post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said, the future of country lay with well-trained human resource, and students are the symbol of the future. In recognition of this, Ms. Shazia Haris, Media Advisor, ERRA, formally announced the signing of an MoU between ERRA and SZABIST-Islamabad, which will bring both institutions together to carry out joint research, foster dialogue and interaction between scholars, experts and policy makers; to disseminate research and analysis, trainings and sharing of knowledge and expertise.

Finally, Session Chair, Dr. Safdar Sohail, Director General Trade Policy, Ministry of Commerce, also highlighted the importance of research in the future of Pakistan's collective intellectual growth.

Over 170 papers were presented during the conference and it was attended by a large number of students from SZABIST and prominent educational institutions from all over Pakistan.

Click here for Photo Gallery