Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan and China’s Hubei Three Gorges Polytechnic have signed here a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in research, faculty exchange, and skills development. On behalf of Gomal University, the MoU was signed by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zafar Iqbal and Director Professor Riaz Ahmed Bitani, while on behalf of China, it was signed by Three Gorges University President Deng Xidong and Director Liu Fangyou.

Earlie this week, the event was held simultaneously in Beijing, Hubei, Islamabad, and Gomal University, Gwadar Pro reported. Founded in 1974 under the vision of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Gomal University is a leading public research institution in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has three campuses, nine faculties, one constituent college, 48 departments, and is affiliated with 110 colleges.

Speaking to Gwadar Pro, Riaz Ahmed Bittani said the deal would “open new avenues for our students in international education, advanced technical training, and respectable employment opportunities at home and abroad.” He added that the MoU will give Gomal students access to cutting-edge laboratories, joint degree programs, paid internships, AI and ICT training, and international research collaborations.

“We have prioritized technology transfer, skills development, and practical learning over mere financial assistance,” he noted. According to Bittani the partnership would also promote agriculture modernization, organic food processing, and global market access for local produce, while Chinese collaboration will help establish a new research college and small applied research labs in the region. “Through this cooperation, Gomal University will emerge as a hub for innovation, linking our region’s agriculture and small industries with international markets,” Bittani said.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China