The Faculty of Education, International Islamic University, Islamabad, marked a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing research and academic excellence with the recently held Postdoc Research Fellowship Workshop for the 2024-2025 batch. Spanning five days—from February 17 to 21, 2025—this second workshop brought together a dynamic blend of eminent scholars, policymakers, and research practitioners, all converging to foster an environment of collaborative learning and rigorous academic discourse.

Day 1 opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Azhar Mahmood Chairperson of the Department of Educational Leadership and Management and Incharge Programs Faculty of Education and Dr. Fouzia Ajmal Incharge Academic Affairs Faculty of Education who not only inaugurated the workshop. The morning session set the tone for the week, emphasizing both the procedural and ethical frameworks crucial for research excellence.

The session by Mr. Sulaiman Ahmad, Director NAHE HEC, addressed the participants with a detailed overview of HEC policies. His session covered critical themes including the policy for students with disabilities, the drug and tobacco abuse policy, and the anti-harassment policy—ensuring that all participants are well-versed in national guidelines shaping academic environments.

Later, Dr. Azhar Mahmood conducted an in-depth session on “Research Supervision” providing essential strategies and insights on how to effectively mentor and manage research projects.

On Day 2 the focus shifted towards refining academic writing skills and delving into the intricacies of literature reviews. Prof. Dr. Fauzia Janjua, Dean Faculty of Languages and Literature, IIUI, spearheaded the session on Academic Writing, emphasizing the importance of constructing a compelling and comprehensive literature review—a fundamental component of any research writing focusing on the coherence and cohesion. She emphasized the connections in Literature Review.

The afternoon session was dedicated to the proposal presentations, where Dr. Asad Abbas Rizvi , Assistant Professor/Incharge Academic Affairs Department of Educational Leadership and Management oversaw the presentation of proposals numbered setting a benchmark for clarity and connectivity in research proposals.

On Day 3 In a session helmed by Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq, DG IRI IIUI, participants continued to engage in rigorous discussion, underscoring the importance of taking benefit of postdoctoral experience beyond academics and research also.

Further engagement with the proposal presentations was done where Dr. Muhammad Munir Kayani, Associate Professor/Chairperson Department of Teacher Education led the session for proposals offering constructive feedback aimed at refining research methodologies.

The fourth day started with the essential skills of data management. Dr. Abdul Rahman Saad Alajlan, Associate Professor Department of Educational Leadership and Management delivered a comprehensive session on “Data Preparation, Management, and Analysis,” equipping postdoctoral fellows with the necessary tools and techniques to handle complex data sets effectively.

The session continued with proposal presentations under the guidance of Dr. Munazza Mahmood, Assistant Professor/Incharge Programs Department of Educational Leadership and Management further fostering an environment of constructive critique and scholarly growth.

On Day 5 Dr. Shahid Soroya, DG Pakistan Institute of Education, addressed the critical theme of Academic Integrity, reinforcing the values of honesty, transparency, and ethical scholarship.

The workshop concluded on February 21, 2025, with sessions that emphasized ethical practices and outlined future directions. In the closing segment, Dr. Azhar Mahmood synthesized the workshop’s insights and achievements, mapping out the way forward and encouraging continued collaboration among the participants. Key take aways were discussed and further tasks were discussed.

As postdoctoral fellows move forward, the skills and insights gained during these intensive sessions would make a lasting impact on their scholarly contributions and the broader academic community.

The Faculty of Education, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), convened the 17th Board of Faculty (BoF) Meeting on February 10, 2025, at the Council Hall, Admin Block, IIUI. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ahmad Shuja Syed, Dean, Faculty of Education/President IIUI, and brought together esteemed experts to deliberate on key academic and administrative matters.

Dr. Azhar Mahmood, Incharge Programs FoE briefed about the agenda items. The agenda included the confirmation and implementation report of the 16th BoF Meeting, approval of the Scheme of Studies for B.Ed 1.5 (Distance Education Mode), and evaluation of research proposals from MS Education scholars (14 female and 4 male) from the Department of Teacher Education and Department of Educational Leadership and Management. Additionally, discussions were held on finalizing a list of national and international experts to enhance academic collaboration and research quality.

Prominent experts including Prof. Dr. Tanveer Uz Zaman, Former Dean of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain (Rtd), Institute of Education and Research, Kohat University of Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Imran Yousuf, Dean Fcaulty of Social Sciences , PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi; and Dr. Wajeeha Shahid, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad contributed to the discussions. Their valuable insights aimed at strengthening research, academic programs, and policy development within the Faculty of Education.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to enhancing academic excellence, promoting quality research, and furthering the faculty’s strategic goals in alignment with IIUI’s vision for educational innovation.

The Faculty of Education, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) convened the 16th Board of Faculty Meeting on January 3, 2025. The meeting, chaired by Prof. Dr. Ahmad Shuja Syed, Dean, Faculty of Education/President IIUI, brought together distinguished faculty members and academic leaders to discuss key research and administrative matters.

Key agenda items included confirmation and implementation of Minutes of the 15th Board of Faculty Meeting, evaluation of Research Proposals from MS (Male and Female) scholars in the Department of Educational Leadership and Management and Change of Supervisors for Ph.D. and MS scholars.

Prominent faculty members and experts including Prof. Dr. Tanveer Uz Zaman, Former Dean of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain (Rtd), Professor, Institute of Education and Research, Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, Prof. Dr. Imran Yousuf, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and Dr. Wajeeha Shahid, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad actively contributed to the discussions. The participants shared valuable insights to enhance research and academic practices within the Faculty of Education.

The meeting concluded with actionable recommendations and a renewed commitment to academic excellence. At the end Dr Azhar Mahmood Incharge Programs thanked all members for their time and contribution.