The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation hosted an international dialogue at its Islamabad secretariat to chart a roadmap for Higher Education and science across the OIC region. The session convened scholars, policymakers, education leaders and diplomats to discuss how universities and research ecosystems can respond to pressing regional challenges.
H.E. Prof. Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius, delivered the keynote, urging global collaboration in science, higher education and technology to confront climate change, food security and the energy transition. She stressed that developing nations must invest in innovation ecosystems to empower youth and enable inclusive development.
Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Senior Honorary Advisor at OIC COMSTECH, presented his talk on AI connecting humans with nature skills and called for preparing Gen Alpha with adaptive, hybrid competencies to coexist with intelligent technologies. His remarks underlined the role of AI in reshaping skill frameworks within Higher Education.
Prof. Dr. Syed Sohail Hussain Naqvi described universities as engines of economic transformation, urging institutions to evolve from teaching centres into dynamic knowledge and entrepreneurship ecosystems. He highlighted that university-led innovation is central to sustainable economic growth across OIC member states.
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC COMSTECH, welcomed participants and framed the dialogue around education equity, quality improvement and strengthened international cooperation for sustainable development. He emphasised that socioeconomic progress today depends more on knowledge and innovation than on natural resources, citing how investment in education and science has driven economic change elsewhere and urging Pakistani universities to prepare students for lifelong learning and innovation.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Prof. Dr. Mudassir Asrar, an official group photograph and hi-tea. In a media conversation after the event, Prof. Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim praised OIC COMSTECH’s role in deepening cooperation in agriculture, education, medicine, maritime sciences and energy, underlining that shared knowledge and joint innovation are vital for sustainable growth across the Islamic world.
The Islamabad dialogue offered a platform for Pakistani higher education stakeholders to engage directly with OIC counterparts, explore collaboration opportunities and align national priorities with a regional roadmap for science, technology and innovation driven development.
