ISLAMABAD — The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan on October 13, 2026, awarded 200 fellowships to PhD scholars under its flagship International Research Support Initiative Programme (IRSIP), offering recipients the opportunity to gain valuable international research experience.
IRSIP Flagship Expanding Horizons: Over 6,900 Scholars Empowered Since 2006
HEC hosted the award ceremony for IRSIP Batch 59 at its Secretariat on Monday. Since the programme’s inception in 2006, more than 6,900 scholars have received IRSIP fellowships.
Chairman HEC Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar was the chief guest at the event, which was attended by Executive Director HEC Dr Zia Ul Haq, senior HEC officials, vice-chancellors, faculty members, awardees, and their parents.
Addressing the recipients, Chairman HEC highlighted IRSIP’s role in human capital development and urged scholars to make effective use of the opportunity while upholding national values. He emphasised that knowledge, skills, and moral integrity are essential to academic and professional growth. Describing the fellowships as a crucial stepping stone for the scholars’ careers, he encouraged them to broaden their research horizons and deliver high-quality research with a meaningful societal impact.
Congratulating the IRSIP selection panel on completing the process, Dr Akhtar reiterated HEC’s commitment to merit and transparency, noting that discrimination is detrimental to society and stressing the importance of fairness across all HEC initiatives.
Driving Academic Excellence and Global Engagement
Executive Director HEC Dr Zia Ul Haq underscored the role of scholarships in advancing academic careers and contributing to national development. Reaffirming HEC’s commitment to non-discriminatory, merit-based selection, he noted that initiatives such as IRSIP enable scholars to engage with the global academic community while supporting their personal and professional development. He urged awardees to remain committed to serving Pakistan upon completing their fellowships.
In his opening remarks, Member HEC (Human Resource Development Division) Dr Nasir Mahmood Khan outlined the objectives of IRSIP. He informed the audience that HEC had received 806 applications from across Pakistan for Batch 59, reflecting the programme’s extensive reach. Referencing HEC’s Transnational Education (TNE) Policy, he highlighted the Commission’s ongoing efforts to promote international academic exposure for Pakistani students and faculty, while announcing that applications for the next IRSIP batch are now open.
Vice-Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University, Dr Nasir Mahmood, who contributed to the selection process, also addressed the awardees. He encouraged them to serve as ambassadors for Pakistan while pursuing their fellowships at leading international universities, describing the opportunity as both a major achievement and a key responsibility.
Launched in 2006, IRSIP offers six-month research fellowships abroad to PhD scholars enrolled in full-time doctoral programmes at Pakistani universities. The programme provides global research exposure, access to advanced facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with foreign supervisors. Crucially, it strengthens academic linkages between Pakistani and international institutions, promotes collaborative research, and enables scholars to enhance their research capabilities and publish in high-impact journals.
IRSIP Flagship Footsteps & Legacy
Since its launch in 2006, the International Research Support Initiative Programme (IRSIP) has served as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s higher education strategy, bridging local doctoral talent with premier global academic institutions. Designed to address critical gaps in advanced research infrastructure, the fully funded six-month initiative provides scholars with monthly living stipends, travel allowances, health cover, and bench fees to conduct specialised lab work alongside international experts. By mandating placement within top-ranked global universities, the initiative has systematically elevated the standard of Pakistani doctoral dissertations and boosted high-impact academic publications. Beyond individual academic growth, IRSIP’s ongoing expansion fosters enduring institutional linkages, scientific knowledge transfer, and cross-border research collaborations that continuously strengthen Pakistan’s national research ecosystem on the global stage.
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