Introduction
The Association of Puntland Universities Research Conference is an event organized once a year with a specific theme that guides all the results of the conference, and every year has one theme. This event will bring together scholars, researchers, academicians, university students, policymakers, entrepreneurs, development partners, and business enterprises to create a knowledge and information exchange platform. It allows the researchers and debtors to share their ideas and/or disseminate research findings to participants in person and virtual. The conference will initiate debate forums on emerging issues related to the conference theme to intensely discuss challenges and provide practical solutions to arising matters. It also enhances capacity and initiatives that foster social service, economy, and technology.
About APU
The Association of Puntland Universities (APU) is a network that aims to bring together all the higher education and research institutions in Puntland to improve the quality of education, research, and responsibilities. The association dates to 2017, but it was not fully functional. To this end, the following universities: the University of Health Sciences (UoHS), University of Bosaso (UoB), East Africa University (EAU), Garowe Teachers Education College (GTEC), Puntland State University (PSU), Global Science University (GSU), Puntland University of Science and Technology (PUST), and Red Sea University (RSU) re-established and made it a fully functional entity that serves as a cooperative body and consultative network designed to enhance connections among institutions, fostering high standards of academic achievement and research.
Purpose
The purpose of the conference is to organize a research conference on enhancing responsibilities of social service, bring together scholars, researchers, experts, senior government officials, business organizations, and international organizations to disseminate research papers and facilitate debates to address challenges hampering social services to create equality and inclusiveness in social service.
Objectives
The key objectives of the Conference are to:
- Establish a research conference to discuss emerging issues on social service and unify social service sectors to work together to bring lasting change and success.
- Hold a forum for disseminating research papers/findings, facilitating debates on challenges and solutions to social service in Puntland, and engaging the community, private sectors, and international community to accelerate social service, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
- Bring together researchers, scholars, and experts from various academic disciplines and universities to exchange ideas and experiences. This also includes creating networking opportunities for the researchers to establish connections beyond institutional boundaries.
- Record and recognize the work of the local universities toward social responsibilities and strengthen collaboration and networking among APU members and others through organizing research conferences, initiating innovations, and building research capacity.
- Facilitate policy briefing and capacity-building sessions to enhance decision-making and utilize up-to-date information that assists in making evidence-based and inclusive decision-making on matters about social service and addressing community needs.
