PESHAWAR: The Cecos University, Peshawar, and the Staffordshire University, England, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on exchange programmes to promote and support entrepreneurship for students and staff of the two institutions.

According to a statement issued here on Saturday, the MoU includes staff exchanges, sharing online learning resources, progression opportunities for Cecos University students to complete part of their studies in the UK, as well as establishing a virtual incubation centre to promote and support entrepreneurship for students and staff of both the institutions.

Commenting on the agreement, Cecos University Vice-Chancellor Dr Sohail A Qureshi said: “We are delighted to have entered a formal relationship with Staffordshire University and look forward to working with their team.

“We hope that this partnership results in true synergy between the two organisations and, in doing so, benefits members of our respective communities in a number of ways.”

The MOU will also bring together both the institutions to provide exciting new opportunities for innovation and virtual collaboration on new projects.

Commenting on sharing similar goals and ideals, Vice-Chancellor Staffordshire University, Professor Liz Barnes said: “We have a lot in common with Cecos University, which prides itself on its creativity, innovation, industry links and student employability.”

About the MOU, she added: “There is the potential for us to develop joint research projects.”

Professor Mark Mabey, Principal Cecos College London, said: “Our partnership with Staffordshire University commenced in September 2020 with a top-up degree in business management.

This September we will also offer the full new degree BA (Hons) business management & sustainability. We look forward to this new exciting partnership which includes Cecos University, Pakistan, and provides more opportunities for student-staff exchanges, progression and research.”

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2021