On October 19, 2025, COMSTECH formalised a strategic partnership with a Consortium of Universities from Gaza–Palestine through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at long-term cooperation in higher education, scientific research and institutional rebuilding of Gaza’s academic sector.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, signed the MoU alongside Prof. Ayman M. F. Sobh, President of Al-Aqsa University, representing the consortium that includes Al-Aqsa University, University of Palestine, Al Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza University, Israa University and Al-Quds Open University. The agreement commits both parties to promote joint educational and scientific programmes, organise international conferences and training courses, and facilitate exchange visits for faculty, researchers and technical experts.
The partnership will integrate Gaza institutions into the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE) and register them in the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal, expanding access to collaborative opportunities across OIC member states. COMSTECH Gaza support will cover faculty development, sabbatical visits and short-term training in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, Natural Sciences and Information Technology, helping to rebuild academic capacity and resilience in Gaza.
During a busy delegation visit to Islamabad, the Gaza university leaders were briefed at the COMSTECH Secretariat on ongoing initiatives for scientific cooperation and capacity building. The first-ever delegation of vice chancellors and senior university representatives from Gaza is on a week-long visit to Pakistan at the invitation of COMSTECH, meeting with leadership of member institutions in Islamabad, Faisalabad and Lahore to explore concrete avenues for academic collaboration and institutional partnership.
Commenting on the agreement, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary said, “This important step will be greatly helpful in connecting universities from Gaza–Palestine with more than eighty leading higher education and research institutions across OIC member states. COMSTECH will continue to assist the universities of Gaza in their rebuilding and rehabilitation through close academic and research collaborations.” The statement underlines COMSTECH Gaza’s commitment to using education and science as tools for sustainable recovery and development.
The Gaza delegation expressed deep appreciation to COMSTECH and Pakistani universities for ongoing support and solidarity with Gaza’s academic community at this critical time. The MoU sets a practical roadmap for collaborative research, training and institutional strengthening that seeks to restore and advance higher education capacity across Gaza–Palestine.
