ISLAMABAD: The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the University of Central Punjab (UCP), Lahore, have reached an understanding to promote young talent through joint research.

For this purpose, a virtual Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr Sajid Amin Javed, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI, and Dr Mohammad Irfan Ali Fani of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at UCP Lahore.

Both organisations will jointly work to strengthen think tank-academia collaboration for promoting young talent through joint research, academic exchange, policy engagement, and capacity-building initiatives.

Under the MoU, both institutions will collaborate on research projects, joint publications, conferences, and consulting assignments, while providing internship and volunteer opportunities for students and training support for faculty.

The partnership also includes the exchange of experts for guest lectures and workshops, access to research and training facilities, participation of students in SDPI’s international sustainable development conference, and joint grant-writing opportunities. Both sides agreed to promote institutional linkages through knowledge sharing, resource facilitation and professional development programmes, with financial arrangements for activities to be finalised through separate project-level agreements.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sajid Amin Javed said the institute looks forward to building this collaboration through the effective implementation of the MoU across multiple domains.

He said SDPI believes academia is a source of ideas that nurtures young minds by imparting modern skills and education and generating talent relevant to the market. “Our partnerships go beyond student internships, as they involve joint research, projects, study initiatives, conferences, symposiums, and seminars of mutual interest,” he added.

He further said the institute, based in Islamabad, considers its MoU partners as its arms and eyes across provinces, helping it function effectively and improve its academic standing. He added that effective implementation makes an MoU meaningful, and SDPI will extend full support to UCP in this regard.

Dr Mohammad Irfan Ali Fani said collaboration between think tanks and academia is critical to ensuring the effectiveness of education imparted to students to compete in the market.

He added that UCP students’ association with institutions like SDPI will help enhance their prospects in the industry. “Many industry partners hold events and conferences at UCP Lahore, and SDPI is also welcome to hold such events at our venue,” he said.

Dr Irfan underlined that UCP also sends its faculty members to industry, and it is mandatory for them to engage with industry to monitor contemporary trends and impart advanced training to students.

He said PhD and MPhil students are working on various theses and require data; in this pursuit, they can contribute to SDPI’s research endeavours, benefiting both students and the institute.

Anam Naeem from the Career Services Office, UCP, said the office is striving to develop MoUs with industry and relevant sectors to initiate mutually beneficial collaborations for students. She expressed hope that SDPI will collaborate with the university to facilitate students through internship opportunities, conferences, and other initiatives.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026