UK Delegation Explores Collaborative Opportunities at NUST

Islamabad, A high-profile British delegation, led by Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion, visited the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) to explore opportunities for academic collaboration and research partnerships. This visit is part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral higher education relations between the UK and Pakistan.

According to Press Information Department, the delegation included senior officials from the British Council and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. They were greeted by Engr Javed Mahmood Bukhari, Rector NUST, who provided an overview of the university’s national and global achievements, focusing on its research and development initiatives and its commitment to building a sustainable knowledge economy through innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialisation.

Sir Steve Smith praised NUST’s rapid growth and highlighted the university’s active collaborations with 247 universities across 52 countries, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a globally interconnected academic environment. He noted that these collaborations reflect NUST’s forward-thinking approach and its dedication to promoting knowledge exchange and cross-cultural understanding.

Rector NUST emphasised that the visit strengthens educational ties between the UK and Pakistan, underscoring the shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of global leaders through cross-cultural understanding. The visit, facilitated by the HEC-Pakistan and the British Council, supports the objectives of the “Pakistan UK Education Gateway” initiative, launched in 2018. This flagship program seeks to enhance partnerships between the higher education sectors of Pakistan and the UK through a structured program jointly funded by the Government of Pakistan and the British Council.

Key areas of collaboration include transnational education, innovative and collaborative research, higher education leadership, quality assurance and standard setting, distance learning, and international mobility. These collaborative efforts aim to foster a strong and enduring relationship between the higher education sectors of both countries.