PESHAWAR: The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure sustainable collaboration between academia and industry for the growth of IT sector and innovation in the province.

The MoU was signed by Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Razia Sultana and KPITB managing director Sahibzada Ali Mahmud during a special ceremony, where minister for science and technology Atif Khan and relevant officials were in attendance, according to an official statement.

Minister Atif Khan said there was a lack of coordination between the government departments and academia.

He said during interaction with vice-chancellors, he asked them to submit projects related to IT, science and technology.

The minister said the SBBWUP was the first university in which IT Park would be developed through the MoU.

“Separate space will be maintained within the university, where students will be provided opportunities related to IT,” he said.

Prof Razia said IT was the need of the hour and the university was striving to initiate ventures in different domains for the women in the province.

She said the university continued its activities during the Covid-19 pandemic and offered training to more than 2,500 students on startups and entrepreneurship.

“The department of computer science trained 250 students in different ventures and the university was contributing to the PM’s vision by investing in youth.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2021