Pak-US to instigate joint research

Staff Report ISB:Pakistan and United States have mutually agreed to carry out joint research activities on areas of energy, water, and agriculture sector. The conjunction will bring forth tangible solutions to impending issues in those sectors and will consequently uplift for sustainable development.

The joint research will promote the applied research in focused areas. 7 universities in total agreed to collaborate out of which 3 were of US whereas the rest of 4 belonged to Pakistani origin. A Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) will be established with US funding of up to $127.

Under the umbrella of CAS, The University of Agriculture Faisalabad and University of California, Davis will collaborate in agriculture and food security. In the energy sector, NUST and University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar will jointly work with the Arizona State University, while Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro will work with the University of Utah for water projects.

US embassy held a roundtable discussion with journalists to unveil the cooperation. US Embassy Assistance Coordinator Brian Aggeler said that ESTWG was the sixth and foremost working group under the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue, which is diplomatic framework for sustained engagement between both countries.

USAID Education Office Deputy Director Garth Willis said revised curricula, financial assistance and laboratories will be established for the chosen universities through a competitive screening process.

US Cultural Affairs Officer Judith Ravin said that the programme was in accord to the four Es of collaboration (economy, education, energy and extremism).

“It is an excellent opportunity for these universities to maximize their capital and foster entire higher education sector,” Ravin said.

USAID Education Office Deputy Director Garth Willis said revised curricula, financial assistance and laboratories will be established for the chosen universities through a competitive process.

The scholarships, exchange programs, networking facilities will be provided under the CAS programme.