By Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the industry-academia linkage.
As per the MoU, both sides will work together to promote research culture in industry to boost industrialization in the region and produce demand-driven graduates for the industry. Both IIUI and ICCI agreed to cooperate for holding vocational and skills development programs for promotion of entrepreneurship.
According to MoU, both sides would also work together to educate students to practice sanctity in their work and follow ethical procedures.
The researchers of the university would also be assisted to develop contact with the external parties.
Both sides would also cooperate for creation of internships and training programs for students to provide them opportunities to broaden the experience and exposure by working with experts.
The IIUI students would conduct research studies to identify the challenges being faced by the local industry and make presentations to meet these challenges before joint sittings of IIUI and ICCI.
The ICCI would arrange joint meetings of industry representatives and IIU faculty & students to discuss the opportunities of fostering entrepreneurship in youth.
The ICCI would pass on information to IIU about different trainings being organized by it or government organizations for capacity building of faculty and students in different areas.
The MoU was signed by IIUI President Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi and ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan in a ceremony held at ICCI.
The IIUI Vice President Administration & Finance Dr. N.B. Jumani and Vice President Research & Enterprise Dr. Ahmed Shuja Syed also witnessed the signing ceremony.
The IIUI President, during the meeting with the ICCI president, said linkage of academia and industry is a need of hour. He added that through research, we could achieve the future demands of our industry and it is necessary to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
The President ICCI Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that the chamber of commerce shall be working keenly to facilitate IIUI students for their internships and projects in functioning industrial units.
