LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar on Tuesday constituted a seven-member committee to form a view on the concept of bridging gap between academia and industry.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar was appointed its convener while other members are University of Education VC Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, Lahore College for Women University VC Dr Bushra Mirza, King Edward Medical University VC Prof Dr Khalid Masud Gondal, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences VC Prof Dr Naseem Ahmed, University of Engineering and Technology VC Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar and the University of Lahore Rector. The committee has been assigned to work out a plan to develop academia-industry linkage after deliberation within 30 days.

The step has been taken to connect the students with industry to get practical skills and later achieve job after completion of study to become a useful citizen for the country.

Mr Akhtar told Dawn that he had received the notification on Tuesday and would convene a meeting of the committee during the current week.

He said the academia and industry linkage was gaining popularity because the universities were producing students and there was a gap between the two domains.

“We will have to bridge the gap and will have to discuss with the industry to start courses according to their needs,” he said. He said they would develop curriculum after holding meetings with the industry.

“Although social sciences was not connected to industry, they would develop a relationship of the social scientists to research on different issues of society and help to suggest how to resolve these issues,” he said.

Mr Niaz further said the universities would have to adopt modern ways to develop liaison with the industry. “Industry could also help the academia solve their issues including monetary problems,” he said.

He said they would have to develop a plan to end the gap between academia and industry.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2022