The OIC-COMSTECH and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan have agreed to deepen collaboration in science, technology and higher education to bolster research and academic exchange across OIC member states. The agreement, reached at a meeting in Islamabad, lays out a series of joint initiatives aimed at improving research capacity and international engagement.
Under the partnership, 200 annual fellowships will be made available for researchers from Muslim minority communities and conflict-affected regions to undertake placements at leading universities in Pakistan. These fellowships are designed to provide sustained research opportunities and strengthen academic links between Pakistan and vulnerable communities across the OIC.
Complementing the fellowships, the two organisations agreed to support 200 annual visits by Pakistani academics and experts to institutions in OIC member states through the COMSTECH Distinguished Scholars Program. The focus will be on STEM disciplines to enhance collaborative research, exchange curricula expertise and build regional scientific networks.
The COMSTECH HEC cooperation will also include a targeted capacity-building programme to help universities from OIC countries improve their global rankings and research profiles. A separate initiative will provide specialised training for accreditation councils to align quality assurance practices with international standards and best practices.
To raise the international visibility of Pakistani higher education, a dedicated capacity-building effort will strengthen international offices at universities and promote broader internationalisation strategies. Implementation of these measures will be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding between COMSTECH and HEC.
The understanding was finalised during a meeting at the HEC Secretariat between Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, and Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairperson of HEC. Mr. Muhammad Murtaza Noor, Focal Person and Coordinator for CCOE and Outreach at COMSTECH, was also present to discuss programme details and next steps.
