PESHAWAR, Dec 12: The NWFP University of Engineering and Technology will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Loughborough University of the United Kingdom, under which students of both the institutions will carry out research jointly in Britain for three to five years.

The decision was taken in a meeting between a three-member delegation of the Loughborough University, led by its Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Prof Neil Halliwell, and UET Vice-Chancellor Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani on Monday.

They discussed possibilities of promoting academic and research links between the two universities.

Mr Gilani said five of the UET’s faculty members had been to the Loughborough University to pursue PhD and further collaboration to develop joint research and faculty strengthening programmes would help local students get hands-on training in the field of engineering.

Prof Halliwell said his university had the biggest campus in the UK, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering, social sciences and sports.

“Our main focus is to identify market needs and respond to challenges through re-search-led teaching and training to the students,” he said.

“Representatives of the UET will soon visit the Loughbo-rough University to sign the MoU,” Mr Gilani said.

He said that under the MoU a joint research programme would be carried out at Laughborough involving UET researchers.