Latest news with #COMSTECH
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Bangladeshi University team signs over 20 MoUs
ISLAMABAD: A high-level academic delegation from Bangladesh has concluded a successful week-long visit to Pakistan, resulting in the signing of more than 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading Pakistani universities and industry partners. The visit marks a significant step forward in strengthening academic and research collaboration between the two countries. The seven-member delegation, comprising vice chancellors and senior officials from prominent Bangladeshi universities, visited Pakistan from June 16-21 at the invitation of the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH). During their stay, the delegation visited leading educational institutions in Lahore, Islamabad, and Murree, including member universities of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE). The MoUs signed with 20 top Pakistani universities cover a wide range of collaborative areas, including faculty and student exchange programs, joint research projects, academic partnerships, infrastructure sharing, co-hosting of conferences, and PhD fee waivers. A notable highlight of the visit was the signing of an agreement with Gourmet Foods, which will offer industrial internships to Bangladeshi students. This initiative aims to enhance practical skills development and foster stronger academia-industry linkages. The delegation was warmly hosted at multiple receptions, including those organized by Dr. Chaudhary Abdul Rehman, Chairman of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan; H.E. Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan; and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH. These engagements allowed the delegation to explore opportunities for deeper institutional partnerships and mutual growth.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
OIC's COMSTECH invites Gaza universities' presidents to Islamabad to explore academic continuity
ISLAMABAAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) COMSTECH Coordinator General Dr. Iqbal Choudhary on Sunday invited the presidents of major Gaza universities to Islamabad, hoping their visit would lead to solutions for academic continuity in the war-torn area. The OIC's Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) has facilitated Palestinian students in securing higher education amid Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 57,000 people and destroyed hundreds of schools since October 2023, dealing a major blow to the education sector in the area. Choudhary held a high-level virtual meeting with the presidents of all major universities in Gaza to coordinate a 'collective humanitarian and academic response' to the war's impact on higher education sector in the region, the OIC body said in its press release. 'During the meeting, the Coordinator General extended a formal invitation to Gaza's university presidents currently outside the region to visit Islamabad,' the statement said. 'The visit aims to foster direct dialogue with key stakeholders and explore collaborative solutions to sustain academic continuity under these extraordinary circumstances.' Choudhary conveyed his deep concern for the people of Palestine, particularly academics, students, and researchers as Israel's war rages on. 'The suffering of the people of Gaza is unbearable, yet their resilience is inspiring,' Choudhary was quoted as saying by COMSTECH. During the meeting, the university representatives gave a presentation highlighting key proposals to facilitate medical training for displaced students, capacity-building for health professionals, access to scientific publishing, and supporting research on the psychological impact of war, COMSTECH said. 'Participants also emphasized the immediate need for virtual learning platforms and remote laboratory facilities as many university campuses have been destroyed,' the statement added. COMSTECH, in collaboration with the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) and member universities of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence, initiated a program in 2021 offering 500 fully funded scholarships and fellowships to Palestinian students. This number was increased to 5,000 scholarships in 2023. Many Palestinian students have already arrived in Pakistan under this program and are pursuing full-degree programs, while efforts are underway to bring more students to the country.
Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Moot stresses quality education
In a significant step towards enhancing academic quality and global competitiveness across the Muslim world, the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) organized an International Workshop on Quality Assurance and University Rankings in Islamabad. The high-level workshop drew over 500 participants from 27 countries and more than 300 institutions, including prominent education experts, vice chancellors, and directors of Quality Enhancement Cells (QECs). The event focused on the critical role of quality assurance (QA) in building institutional credibility, improving global rankings, and driving sustainable academic development. Professor M Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, underscored quality assurance as a strategic pillar for excellence in higher education. "This gathering reflects our shared commitment to raising the quality, and international standing of higher education within the OIC region," he said.
Business Recorder
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
GCUF signs MoUs with four varsities in Bangladesh
FAISALABAD: The Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) has taken a significant step toward fostering international academic collaboration by signing (MoUs) with four prestigious universities in Bangladesh. The institutions included Daffodil International University, North South University, University of Asia Pacific, and International Islamic University Chittagong. The MoUs were officially signed by Vice Chancellor of GCUF, Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam, during the Special Vice Chancellors' Meeting for Bangladesh, held under the auspices of OIC-COMSTECH at the COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad. The signing ceremony was chaired by Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, and graced by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, as the chief guest. On this occasion Muhammad Murtaza Noor Coordinator/Focal Person COMSTECH also present. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
19-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan hosts Bangladeshi academic delegation under OIC's scientific cooperation framework
ISLAMABAD: A seven-member delegation from Bangladeshi universities is currently visiting Pakistan to deepen academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's coordinating body for scientific collaboration said on Thursday. Pakistan and Bangladesh, once a single country before the bloody 1971 war, have slowly begun rebuilding ties after last year's political upheaval in Dhaka, which saw the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, long viewed as critical of Islamabad and aligned with New Delhi. She fled to India by helicopter after her administration's downfall in August 2024, with Dhaka now seeking her extradition. The ties between India and Bangladesh's interim government have become frosty, creating space for Islamabad and Dhaka to re-engage after decades of limited contact. 'The forum brought together a seven-member Bangladeshi delegation comprising vice chancellors and senior representatives from leading universities, and vice chancellors from 15 top Pakistani universities, which are part of COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence,' the OIC-COMSTECH said in a statement, adding that academics from Bangladesh are visiting Pakistan from June 16-21. The visiting delegation termed their ongoing visit as 'historical, highly productive and promising' for academic collaboration between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Vice chancellors from Pakistani and Bangladeshi universities held discussions aimed at deepening academic and scientific cooperation, it added. The meetings focused on expanding collaboration in key areas including student and faculty exchange programs, scholarship opportunities, joint research initiatives apart from sharing academic expertise. The participants of the meeting also agreed that each university would appoint a focal person to ensure effective follow-up on commitments made during the visit. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan, the chief guest at the event, praised COMSTECH for offering scholarships, organizing the visit and facilitating meaningful academic exchanges between higher education institutions of the two countries. In May, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar agreed to strengthen bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and maintain high-level contacts with its leadership. Pakistan's government launched a new program in December 2024 through which it will provide fully funded scholarships to 300 Bangladeshi students. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus in New York last year at a ceremony hosted by the Bangladeshi leader to mark the completion of 50 years of Bangladesh's membership in the United Nations. Both sides had agreed to forge stronger ties and enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields during their meeting.
