Moalims

ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani and three United States universities will undertake collaborative research under the project of `Centres for Advanced Studies’ (CAS) to harness applied research to find innovative solutions in water, agriculture and energy challenges for Pakistan.
A $127 million US investment is being executed by the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the US-Pakistan Centres for Advanced Studies to support Pakistan’s economic development by strengthening universities.
This was revealed by officials of US Embassy and USAID during a roundtable discussion with media held here on Monday.
Participating universities in this programme include University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and University of California, Davis in agriculture sector and National University of Science and Technology (NUST), University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar and Arizona State University in energy sector.
While Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro and University of Utah will collaborate in water sector.
The participants were informed that the project was structured as three partnerships in the fields of energy, water and agriculture between three US and four Pakistani universities.
Each CAS would form public-private partnerships and interest specific networks by bringing together leaders in academia, government and the business community to identify the applied research solutions in the agriculture, energy and water sectors.
The project would prepare around 1000 graduates for employment in the private and public sectors and provide them opportunities of limited resources or from disadvantaged groups to pursue higher education.
The CAS project would support self-sustaining applied research through an enhanced working relationship between universities and industry-producing graduates and research conducive to Pakistan’s economic growth and raise the quality of faculty.
The project would assist in several areas including providing curricula, financial management, governance, teaching and other reforms to make university education and research more relevant to the needs of industry and government.
The project would help develop scholarship programmes, leading networking activities, developing strong links with private sector and facilitating relevant policy dialogues and reforms.
The meeting was also informed that a high level US delegation and Pakistani government officials would hold inaugural session of the newly established US-Pakistan Education, Science and Technology Working Group on June 3 (Wednesday).
This session would underscore the ongoing long-term cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in the fields of higher education, science and technology.
The officials who spoke during the roundtable included Assistance Coordinator, US Embassy, Brian Aggeler, Counsellor for Economic Affairs, US Embassy, Daniela Ballard, Cultural Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Judith Ravin, Director, USAID Education Officer, Tom LeBlanc and Deputy Director, USAID Education Office, Garth Willis.