LAHORE: A delegation of the Alliance of Islamic Universities of Africa (AIUA) comprising vice-chancellors of 14 African universities on Wednesday visited the Government College University, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for research and academic collaboration with universities of Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

On the occasion, GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi said the tripartite accord, signed by AIUA, COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence and GCU Lahore, would help build an ecosystem of collaboration and enable knowledge-based economic growth in the OIC member states, particularly in the African region.

He said this alliance would open avenues to share ideas, skills, expertise, and best practices to pool resources for mutual support and benefit for each institution.

Prof Zaidi told the visiting vice-chancellors that the GCU had last year enrolled 64 international students in different disciplines, hoping the MoU would also help initiate student and faculty exchange programmes with the African universities.

GCU Academic Planning and External Links Director Ms Fouzia Shaheen also briefed the visiting delegation on various academic programmes offered at the GCU.

COMSTECH Media Advisor Murtaza Noor said the core mandate of COMSTECH was to strengthen cooperation among the OIC member states in the realm of higher education and health.

The AIUA delegates, led by Prof Salisa Shehee, Vice Chancellor of Al-Istiqama University, Nigeria, spoke about opportunities and developmental challenges in the African region.

The delegation also included the VCs of Ummah University (Kenya), Alnasar University (Nigeria), Al Qaiam University (Nigeria), Al Anser Foundation (Nigeria), Borno State University (Nigeria), Nasarwa State University (Nigeria), Muslim University, Maorogora (Tanzania) and Islamic Call University (Uganda).

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2022