LAHORE: (July 31):  Punjab University and Bielefeld University, Germany, Department of Public Health Medicine has signed an agreement of academic collaboration.  PU External Linkages Director Prof Dr Najma Najam signed the agreement during her visit to Bielefeld University. Prof Dr Rukhsanan Kausar and Dr Shahida Tanveer were also with her.

Prof.  Najma Najam held series of meetings with the senior academic and administrative officials of the University including Prof. Dr. Gerd Bohner, Dean, Faculty of Psychology, and Prof. Dr. Claudia Hornberg, Dean Faculty of Health Sciences, Bielefeld University. An agreement of academic collaboration was signed with the Department of Public Health Medicine, Bielefeld University, and Punjab University.

Under the agreement through faculty exchange programme, both junior and senior faculty may visit to German University (for short term and long term basis) to brush up their knowledge and refresh their technical-know how. The faculty members may also collaborate with the German colleagues for joint research publications. German professors may also act as our Ph.D
examiners and external reviewers for professorial positions. PU academicians may also submit their scientific work in German research  journals for publications.

For students, there could be various levels of collaboration. German students who are working on topic related to developing countries may come to Pakistan for data collection and internship to get first-hand knowledge of the developing set-up. University of the Punjab will facilitate these students. Similarly, Masters and Ph.D students of Punjab University will also visit Germany for short term basis (may be for one semester) or for long term basis (for two years, or for the whole degree duration). PhD level students may also visit Bielefeld University for short period to compete their review of literature by consulting German  library (under sandwich model).
Delegation also explored the opportunities for joint research projects. There are areas like conservation of environment, global  warming, problems of mega cities, food insecurity and international  migration where various faculties of Punjab University and Bielefeld University are interested. As the collaborative relations strengthens, research projects will be proposed and conducted in these areas.

Dr. Najam also identified areas where comprehensive, broad-based and long-term academic collaboration between the two universities could be developed. During the meetings, German academicians expressed deep interest and enthusiasm for developing linkages with Pakistani universities in various academic disciplines. The proposed collaboration included in the areas of faculty exchange, students exchange and joint research projects. The meetings were coordinated by Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar and Dr Rubeena Zakar who are presently based in Bielefeld University.

On the invitation of the Director, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF), Bielefeld University, the delegation visited the ZiF where Prof. Dr. Martin Carrier gave in-depth briefing about the philosophy and functioning of this unique and elite German research institution. Prof. Carrier also invited the promising Pakistani academicians to come forward to create new and interdisciplinary knowledge which could address the challenges faced by the contemporary polarized and problem-ridden world.