Iran-Pakistan Ink MoUs To Promote Education

Islamabad, June 13, IRNA – Three Iranian universities on Tuesday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pakistani COMSATS University aiming at boosting bilateral cooperation in education sector. The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of two-day COMSATS conference of Vice Chancellors, rectors, presidents of universities, scholars, scientists, researchers and eminent academicians from all over the Islamic world. Hadi Khurrami Shad, Director Tehran University of Science and Technology, Muhammad Bid Hindi, Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Isfahan and Ali Haghighi, President of Damghan University signed the MoUs with senior official of COMSATS University in a simple but dignified ceremony. The MoU’s pertain to students, teachers exchange programs, holding of joint conferences and workshops and award of scholarships to brilliant students. Mehdi Javanmard, Head Inter-Islamic Network of virtual universities talking to IRNA said that scientific and technological developments in the OIC member states were discussed in the COMSATS conference. He said that the basic objective of holding the conference is to promote cooperation between Muslim states at higher education level and to solve their problems in the field of education. The educationist called for enhancing cooperation between the OIC member states in education sector to bring peace and stability in the region. Mehdi Javanmard said that Iran and Pakistan enjoy strong relationship in the field of education. He said that in 2002 Iranian and Pakistani ministries of science and technology had signed an MoU to enhance bilateral cooperation. He said that nowadays about 50 Pakistani students have been studying in Iran for MPhil and PhD. Head Inter-Islamic Network of virtual universities said that Iran has been extending full cooperation to Pakistan in education sector. He said that Iran wants to promote Persian language and literature in Pakistan. He said that both Iran and Pakistan are also providing scholarships to the students for higher studies under student exchange program. Earlier addressing the conference Mehdi Javanmard, had informed the audience about the Inter-Islamic Network of virtual universities in Iran. He said that the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has also accepted the virtual universities network of Iran Abulali Basiri Chairman of International and Scientific cooperation Damghan University talking to IRNA said that after sighing an MoU with COMSATS Damghan University will soon ink MoUs with, Behria University, National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Quaid-e-Azam University. The two day Vice Chancellors' Forum on Higher Education in the Islamic World: challenges and opportunities, was attended by representatives of 134 universities of Pakistan, 111 vice chancellors, 87 representatives from Islamic countries and Commonwealth Organization. Muhammad Fathiyan, Advisor to Iran to Vice Chancellor, University of Science and Technology Tehran, Ramin Rehmani, Chancellor Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Gorgan, Hujjatul Islam Sayyed Abul Hasan Nawab, and President Danishgah Adiyan also included in the Iranian delegation. During the conference the representatives of the universities of Pakistan and Islamic world deliberated on the future aspects of challengers and opportunities in higher education especially in the Islamic world. The conference was organized jointly by COMSATS Institute of Information and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World./end