LAHORE, Feb 1: The University of Texas, USA, director (outcomes, assessment and bio-statistical services), Dr. Terry E. Rives arrived at the University of Health Science on a nine-day visit here on Tuesday.
During a meeting with UHS board of governors' chairman Dr. Mahmood Ahmad Chaudhry, VC Dr. Malik Husain Mubbashar and other senior faculty members, Dr. Rives assured them that the Texas University would extend its full support and cooperation to the UHS in its pursuit of academic excellence and development of research culture in healthcare system in Pakistan.
Dr. Rives said the students and faculty exchange programme between both the universities would result in a cultural and social interchange between the USA and Pakistan.
"We are becoming one world. We need to understand each other's system. I came here as an insider, not outsider, to talk candidly with you and understand your problems and difficulties. We will be more than willing to help you," Dr. Rives said.
According to the university spokesman, Dr. Rives lauded the achievements made by the UHS in just two years and termed its evaluation system completely credible and secure.
He said the greatest services the UHS could render was to provide healthcare services to all people of Pakistan, irrespective of their social status. BoG chief Prof. Chaudhry said the exchange programme would enormously benefit both the universities.
He said American students and teachers could benefit from the clinical material the UHS had possessed. Moreover, they would also learn how to work under resource constraints, he added.
Prof. Chaudhry said helping and training of the UHS students would be the real aid from the USA to Pakistan. "This aid will help kill the prejudices and help in building strong cultural and social ties between the people of two countries," he added.
Earlier, VC Prof. Mubbashar gave a presentation on curriculum development, nursing, bio-medical engineering and MPhil/PhD programme in basic medical sciences. During his stay in Lahore, Dr. Rives will finalize a comprehensive programme of mutual cooperation between the UHS and the Texas University.
The priority areas of cooperation to be discussed include establishment of a nursing institute and undergraduate/postgraduate nursing programmes, MSc in bio-medical engineering programme, student exchange programme, department of medical education and overall institutional strengthening of the UHS.
