LAHORE PAKISTAN : Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) proudly announces a prestigious international research achievement secured under the supervision of Dr. Saima Eman and the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Amina Muazzam, Chairperson, Department of Applied Psychology and Director WILL, under the visionary guidance of Prof. Dr. Uzma Quraishi, Vice Chancellor LCWU, who met the research team and appreciated the students for this outstanding accomplishment.
The grant has been awarded under the Researchers in the Global South Grant 2025 by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), Division 9 of the American Psychological Association (APA). This highly competitive international grant recognizes impactful research addressing critical social issues in the Global South.
Dr. Saima Eman, from the Department of Applied Psychology, LCWU, will serve as the Principal Investigator of the funded project titled:
“Breaking the Silence: Challenges of Adoptees/Care-Experienced Persons in a Pakistani Islamic Socio-Legal Context.”
This significant “mega adoption project” encompasses five MS Clinical Psychology research studies, creating a strong academic training platform for graduate researchers:
1. Tooba Ijaz, MS Clinical Psychology, LCWU
2. Tehreem Ayesha, MS Clinical Psychology, LCWU
3. Maira Munawar, MS Clinical Psychology, LCWU
4. Zainab Ejaz, MS Clinical Psychology, LCWU
5. Ansa Shafqat, MS Clinical Psychology, LCWU
Collaborative Partners
The project reflects strong national and international collaboration:
International Collaborator:
David S. P. Hillstedt-Asplund (Adoptionscentrum)
LCWU Collaborator:
Dr. Asma Seemi Malik
Chairperson, Department of Sociology, LCWU
National Collaborator:
Mamoona Raza,
International School
Lahore
The research has already been presented at two international and one national conference, demonstrating early scholarly impact and global academic engagement.
The project aims to contribute to inclusive policy dialogue by advocating for the recognition of adult adoptees’ dual identities: birth and adoptive within Islamic socio-legal principles, fostering greater awareness, social inclusion, and evidence-based reform.
LCWU extends heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Saima Eman, the Department of Applied Psychology, and the student researchers on this distinguished accomplishment. This achievement reflects the university’s continued commitment to research excellence, student mentorship, international collaboration, and socially meaningful scholarship.
