The Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) convened the inaugural meeting of its newly established Research Advisory Group (RAG) on Wednesday at the PIE auditorium.

It was a collaborative effort with the FCDO-funded Data and Research in Education – Research Consortium (DARE-RC), led by Oxford Policy Management in partnership with Aga Khan University’s Institute for Education Development (AKU-IED) and Sightsavers International, the statement said.

The RAG meeting was held to set the research agenda for the country’s education sector and provides guidance and support to the PIE in positioning itself.

The event was attended by distinguished guests including Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, the secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Dr Muhammad Shahid Soroya, the PIE director general, Dr Faisal Bari from LUMS, and Dr Jamila Razzaq, the research lead of DARE-RC.

Wani emphasised the role of RAG in providing valuable insights and identifying potential research areas supported by data and research evidence, particularly in light of the “education emergency” declared by the prime minister.

Dr Soroya appreciated and acknowledged the role of FCDO and DARE-RC in the establishment of Research Agenda Group. “This initiative underscores PIE’s commitment to strengthening the quality and impact of educational research in Pakistan.”

Dr Razzaq, the Director Research of DARE-RC, said: “The Research Advisory Group is uniquely positioned to translate inputs from diverse partners into a national research agenda for improving education policy in Pakistan. This group will strengthen linkages between PIE and relevant partners to ensure research insights become actionable policies, marking an important milestone for evidence-based decision making in our education system.”