LAHORE: (May 10): Punjab University’s Directorate of External Linkages organized a seminar on ‘Collaborative Research and Innovation in Higher Education’ in the auditorium of Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology here New Campus on Saturday.

Punjab University Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Azhar Ikram was the chief guest while Prof Stephen Moore and Dr MA Farmer from British Institute of Technology & E-commerce were key note speakers. Addressing to the seminar VC Azhar Ikram said that PU science departments had been in the stage to compete the standard of foreign institutions. He said that collaborative research provides us an opportunity to improve the research level in various disciplines with the help of partnering institutes. He said that PU is getting maximum benefits from Higher Education Commission (HEC) policies on collaboration of public sector universities with foreign institutions. British Institute of Technology & E-commerce Director Dr Muhammad Farmer in his address said that their institute had a mission to create a fusion of education, research and consultancy to advance knowledge and skills in response to the ever changing and challenging business environment. BITE Corporate Services Director Prof Stephen Moore said that Pakistan is poised on the threshold of an economic boom, which will lift millions out of poverty and turn the whole of the Indian sub-continent into an economic powerhouse of the 21st century He said that collaboration among the institutions could create a valuable link between British and Pakistani research and specialist know-how.

Earlier presenting her welcome address External Linkages Director Prof Dr Najma Najam thanked the BITE delegation for their visit on varsity’s invitation. She expressed her hope that PU would continue to collaborate with BITE in future in areas of mutual interest.