The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education (CoHE) have held high-level bilateral discussions focused on expanding academic collaboration between universities in the two countries. HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and CoHE President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar jointly presided over the discussions, which brought together higher education leaders from Pakistan and Türkiye. The engagement focused on developing stronger institutional links and exploring strategic opportunities for cooperation in emerging areas of science and technology.
Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and biotechnology were among the key fields discussed during the bilateral engagement. The two sides explored opportunities for academic collaboration and strategic joint ventures that could connect universities and researchers in both countries. The discussions were followed by one-on-one meetings between university heads, providing an opportunity for institutions to examine direct partnerships and identify areas for academic cooperation, research and knowledge exchange.
As part of the visit, the Turkish delegation also visited AIR University, where members were briefed on the institution’s facilities and engaged with faculty members. The delegation toured the university’s Network Security Lab, providing an opportunity to observe its academic and technical capabilities in cybersecurity. The visit highlighted the potential for further institutional cooperation in technology-focused education and research between Pakistani and Turkish universities.
The delegation also visited the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP), where it received briefings on ongoing research, innovation and technology development activities. The engagement provided exposure to Pakistan’s research and technology ecosystem while creating an opportunity to explore potential areas of future cooperation. The discussions and institutional visits form part of broader efforts to develop academic partnerships between Pakistan and Türkiye in emerging technologies and strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions in both countries.
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