PESHAWAR: The three-year Universities Partnership Programme between the five public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the University of Kentucky in the United States has created a strong research and training links between the two countries, said participants of a conference.

The US embassy in Islamabad and its consulate general in Peshawar facilitated the conference in Islamabad held under the banner “International Perspectives on Research and Teaching” on the theme of business administration, said a press statement issued by the US Consulate here on Friday.

The conference marked the culmination of the three-year university partnership between the University of Kentucky and a consortium of five universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Faculty members from some of the partner institutions presented post-doctoral papers and highlighted areas of joint cooperation and development.

The programme featured 30 professors from five universities in KP who visited the University of Kentucky for eight weeks for post-doctoral training and to conduct research. The US government had provided $1.8 million to support this partnership programme.

Moulik D. Berkana, the public affairs officer from the US Consulate in Peshawar, opened the conference with officials from the partner institutions.

The five universities linked to the programme include the University of Peshawar, Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, the Institute of Management Sciences in Peshawar, Kohat University of Science and Technology and the University of Science and Technology in Bannu.

“Together, we have created interesting research, engaging classroom experiences for students, and lasting friendships. We will continue to search for ways to work together for years to come,” said Nancy Johnson, the associate dean of international affairs, Gatton College of Business and Economics, University of Kentucky, in a video message.

Abdul Wali Khan University vice-chancellor Prof Ihsan Ali stated: “The project has led the business schools to transform their curricula and develop and execute joint research. Above all, it has led to friendship and future partnerships that will prosper.”

This university linkage programme began in 2013. It provided an opportunity to the faculty of University of Kentucky to visit Pakistan to train the trainers of partner universities in faculty and curriculum development and pedagogical skills.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2016