RE-ENVISIONING THE TRAJECTORIES OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND ITS UTILIZATION: COLLABORATION BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND PUBLIC INSTITUTES OF PAKISTAN AND ITS IMPACT ON POLICY FORMULATION

The study aimed to analyze the motivation and directions of academic research in social sciences in institutes of higher education and its utilization at public policy institutes of Pakistan. Primary data was collected from four selected universities and two public policy institutes whereas secondary data was collected from internet sources and institutional policy documents to reach the objectives. In-depth interviews of selected respondents were conducted. Interpretive method was used to analyze the collected data by coding and presenting the views under different themes. During study a significant disconnect was found between academic research trajectory of social sciences and its applicability for concerned institutions. Lack of a national research agenda, absence of proper coordination body between universities and line ministries, difference of institutional culture between bureaucracy and academics, lack of logistic and financial support for research in budget allocations, intrinsic deficiencies of learning methodology in HEIs and incentive policy of Higher Education Commission are the key factor responsible of lack of targeted research. The study also outlined the mechanism to improve the research impact and reduce outcomes gap of social science research as proposed by the stakeholders