ISLAMABAD, March 30: Higher Education Commission and British Council would initiate short PhD research attachments (SPRA) to enhance research and training capacity of higher education institutions in Pakistan with input and support from the United Kingdom counterparts.

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to launch SPRA in the UK for selected Pakistani faculty members from 50 on-going HEC-BC joint higher education link partner universities.

British Council Country Head, Ms Sue Beaumont and HEC Executive Director Dr. Sohail Naqvi signed the agreement at a ceremony held here on Friday.

Under this MoU, the research attachments funded by the British Council will enable a group of selected qualified faculty members from 50 Pakistani higher education link partner institutes to undertake part of their PhD research (up to six months) at their respective link partner universities in the UK.

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and the British Council launched the Joint Higher Education Links Programme with establishing 15 higher education partnerships in first phase and another 35 partnerships in second phase.—APP