Staff Reporter
Prof. Dr Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, Rector, COMSATS University Islamabad on Tuesday chaired a meeting of Alumni of Chinese Universities currently working in COMSATS University Islamabad on faculty positions under the aegis of the CUI China Study Centre.
CUI currently employs over 170 faculty members who are alumni of Chinese universities working full time in CUI. In addition, more than 140 faculty members from CUI are presently pursuing PhDs in various top ranked universities of China. Ali Tawab Balouch, Head CSC informed that over 500 more scholars are expected to travel to China from COMSATS University in the next 5 years for their Masters or PhD. CUI was pioneer in establishing a China Study Centre in Islamabad, which has been instrumental in building linkages with Chinese Universities and enhancing interest of Study in China among faculty members and students said Mr. Tawab.
Faculty members from all seven campuses of CUI were connected remotely through video link and expressed the status of their research.
Prof. Afzal opined that China is a strategic partner of Pakistan and the support of the Chinese Government has been instrumental in meeting the human resource development needs of COMSATS University. While sharing his vision Prof. Afzal said alumni of Chinese Universities should work in partnership with their Chinese counterparts and tap their Chinese collaborators for joint research opportunities on projects that are pertinent to the global development agenda, while addressing local needs.
Prof. Afzal encouraged faculty members to develop cross cutting proposals on biomedical materials, engineering and technology and architecture and help improve understanding of the Chinese culture among students. He said that the COMSATS University being the largest employer of Chinese PhD graduates in Pakistan would like to be a leading think tank of the government on CPEC. Prof. Afzal also expressed satisfaction over the research productivity and teaching performance of Chinese graduates.
