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Coordinated varsity-industry interaction stressed

ISLAMABAD: There is a need to bridge the credibility gap between the universities and the industry for smooth and coordinated interaction between the institutions of higher learning and industry.

This was the consensus of the two-day national workshop concluded here at the University Grants Commission on Wednesday, says a UGC press release issued here Thursday.

The theme of the Workshop was "University-Industry Interaction in Pakistan."

The workshop, attended by vice-chancellors of universities, eminent educationists, trade masters, industrialists, and high public and private sector officials, was the final in which the recommendations of both the workshops were thoroughly discussed and finalised.

Prof. Moegiadi, Unesco Director for South Asia advised that the increase in the output of universities with relevance to the needs of industry, economic development and human resource development.

Supporting the 19 recommendations finalised by the experts of different groups during the Workshop, he proposed that one of the universities of the country may be selected as a case study to implement the recommendations of this Workshop and disseminate the results to other stake-holders.

He said we must invest more money, more skills and more efforts to improve the dilapidated condition of the region.

Prof. Dr. Abdul Wahab Rector, Institute of Management and Computer Science Fauji Foundation, Rawalpindi while announcing the recommendations stressed the need to form Advisory Boards comprising represintatives of government, university & industry at national, provincial and university levels.

The recommendations resolved to establish Chairs at universities motivating trade association and industrialists, sign memorandum of understanding between universities and trade associations for sharing expertise and information, create confidence and donors in operating funds and provide bank loans at lower mark-up to promote information technology.

The participants of the Workshop were told that the UGC was going all out to disseminate these recommendations to the concerned quarters for implementation.

Dr. M. Sharif Bhatti, Vice-Chancellor, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila and Suhail Altaf, Representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rawalpindi appreciated the efforts of the UGC for organising this motivating workshop.

The workshop ended on vote of thanks presented by UGC Academics Adviser Prof Dr A. Q. Mughal. APP