UK Delegation Explores Academic Collaborations at NUST

News Desk

Islamabad: A significant milestone in bilateral higher education relations between the UK and Pakistan was marked with the arrival of a high-powered British delegation on an official visit to Pakistan.

Accompanied by senior officials from the British Council and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, the delegation paid a visit to the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST).

Led by Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion, the delegation included prominent figures from both the government and academia, aiming to explore opportunities for academic collaboration and research partnerships.

Upon their arrival at the university, Engr Javed Mahmood Bukhari, Rector of NUST, warmly welcomed the guests.

This was followed by a comprehensive discussion covering the university’s national and global achievements, its research and development initiatives, and its efforts towards fostering a sustainable knowledge economy through a robust ecosystem of research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.

Sir Steve Smith praised NUST’s growth and highlighted the university’s active collaborations with 247 universities across 52 countries, citing it as evidence of NUST’s forward-thinking approach and dedication to fostering a globally interconnected academic environment that encourages knowledge exchange and cross-cultural understanding.

Rector NUST emphasized that the visit signifies not only the strengthening of educational ties between the two nations but also underscores their shared commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and nurturing the next generation of global leaders.

Facilitated by the HEC-Pakistan and the British Council (BC), the UK delegation’s visit will support the objectives of the flagship initiative “Pakistan UK Education Gateway” launched in 2018.

This initiative aims to enhance partnerships between the higher education sectors of Pakistan and the UK through a structured program jointly funded by the Government of Pakistan and BC.

Key areas of collaboration under this initiative include transnational education, innovative and collaborative research, higher education leadership, quality assurance and standard setting, distance learning, and international mobility.