National Grassroots ICT Research Initiative - a case study

Abstract

All ICT-related undergraduate students in Pakistan are required to complete a final year project (FYP) as a partial requirement for completion of their degrees by the universities and educational institutions. Not all universities and their laboratories are well-equipped to provide their students all the essential equipment, software, hardware, and necessary components needed to complete their final year projects. Due to this and other reasons many students are limited to the typical repetitive topics and themes for their final year projects instead of being able to materialise their innovative ideas into a final year project. Financial impetus may be provided to the university students to spur their motivation to take on more challenging final year projects and hence help them realise their true potential. A case study is presented of National Grassroots ICT Research Initiative (NGIRI), which was executed by National ICT R&D Fund across all ICT universities of Pakistan that generated immense interest by student populace and resulted in multiple positive outcomes.