Aberdeen Meets Islamabad: A Step towards Scottish-Pakistani Academic Synergy and CUI & RGU Join Hands for a Promising Academic Future
Islamabad: April 16, 2025 — a delegation from Robert Gordon University (RGU), Aberdeen, Scotland, visited COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) on April 16, 2025. The delegates included Dr. Dan Allen, Dean of Gray’s School of Art, and Dr. John Isaacs, Dean School of Computing, Engineering and Technology. Their journey aimed to explore a tapestry of shared academic and research opportunities with CUI.
This visit was facilitated by the Pakistan-UK & Ireland Business Council, functioning under the aegis of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in close coordination with COMSATS Headquarters. The visit was arranged by the University at the special behest of Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director, COMSATS, whose continued efforts to strengthen cross-border educational bridges are widely commended. Representing COMSATS Secretariat were Dr. Mehwish Qayyum Durani, Additional Director and Head COMSATS Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS), and Dr. Huma Baloch, Deputy Director IPOs and CCCS. The FPCCI was represented by Mr. Arsalan Ijaz Anwer, Director; Ms. Sana Mehwish, Project Manager; and Mr. Mishaal Bakhtiar, who also joined the delegates.
The RGU delegation was received by Dr. Hammad Omer, T.I., Head International Office and his team. The delegates were shown various laboratories and facilities of the Departments of Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science, in addition to touring the Junaid Zaidi Library and the Art Gallery. The formal meeting included a suite of presentations of RGU and its School of Computing, Engineering and Technology by Dr. Allen and Dr. John which was attended by senior academicians Prof. Dr. Sohail Asghar, Dean, Faculty of Information Science and Technology and In-Charge, Islamabad Campus; Prof. Dr. Shahzad A. Malik, Dean, Faculty of Engineering; and Prof. Dr. Shahida Mansoor, Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Design. Joining them were Dr. Hammad Omer, T.I., Head, International Office, and Mr. Zubair Iqbal, UK Desk Officer.
CUI's overview, achievements, ranking, R&D and past UK engagements were presented by Dr. Omer. Dr. Omer also presented CUI’s historic UK linkages, and revealed a visit by The Rt. Hon. Lord David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who visited CUI in 2011. Over 150 UK alumni are currently serving across CUI’s campuses. Dr. Omer proposed a raft of collaborative initiatives with RGU: joint scientific and applied research initiatives; identification of mutual research groups to leverage global funding; faculty involvement in CUI’s flagship academic events; reciprocal researcher exchanges lasting six to twelve months to nurture young talent; cross-institutional engagement through the University’s six research centres; and academic mobility through HEC’s fully funded Faculty Exchange Program.
As the day’s proceedings concluded in high spirits, the mutual aspiration for a long-standing Scottish-Pakistani—particularly CUI-RGU—partnership stood affirmed. With the seeds of collaboration now sown, both RGU and CUI look forward to cultivating a fruitful and enduring academic alliance.
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