COMSATS inaugurates modern and well equipped international center ICTD

The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) inaugurated the modern, well-equipped International Centre for Training and Development (ICTD) during a ceremony at its Secretariat in Islamabad.

COMSATS inaugurates modern and well equipped international center ICTDThe centre ICTD has been jointly established by COMSATS and American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) under an agreement signed in Jan 2018 with an aim to offer training by foreign experts in the areas of climate change, intellectual property rights, higher education and leadership and energy policy.

Executive Director, COMSATS, Dr S M Junaid Zaidi emphasized during the inauguration ceremony about the need for human resource development and capacity building of scientific community in the developing countries to bring them at par with the developed ones.

He said a lack of training and leadership causes setbacks in all sectors.

He further said that leadership and decision-making skills could be inculcated in the youth through expert trainings, which can help achieve sustainable development in the South.

President of AIPS, Dr Farhat Haq, in her inaugural remarks, considered establishment of the ICTD  important for networking between US-based experts and relevant actors in Pakistan.

He highlighted the need for translating and aligning expertise from the North with local needs and challenges. She anticipated that the established Centre would benefit COMSATS network in the developing countries and would also help activate intellectual resources available in AIPS network of 44 universities and 28 research centers.

Country Director (Pakistan) of AIPS, Nadeem Akbar, introduced AIPS and highlighted the undertakings and programmes of the institute that include research and travel grants, junior faculty trainings and exchanges, and fellowship.

He stated that the Centre would also conduct demand-driven trainings for the benefit of COMSATS member states.

Further modalities of training and cooperation are being worked out which are expected to be initiated in January 2020.