Mr. Asif A. Malik, Assistant Registrar from COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Principal Seat, Islamabad visited the Federation of Russia from May 19 to June 2, 2014 for attending an International Week at Saint Petersburg State Poli-technical University (SPbSPT) focused on “Effective University Networking: Response to Global Challenges”, which was held from May 19 to 24, 2014. Besides CIIT, delegates from University of Reutlingen (Germany), Technical University of Hamburg (Germany), Lappeenranta University of Technology (Finland), Ulm University of Applied Science (Germany), University of Stuttgart (Germany), Technical University of Berlin (Germany), Polytechnical University of Milan (Italy) and Politechnical University of Valencia (Spain) also participated in the event.

During the event, Mr. Asif Malik made several presentations wherein he introduced CIIT as a most vibrant and rapidly growing research oriented Degree Awarding Institute in Pakistan having a national and international repute as a hub of quality education and research. More precisely, Mr. Malik delivered a talk on the subject “Networking; as a forum of discussion and exchange of information for universities, creation of modern international community, and how universities can contribute to the economic, cultural and social development of countries” to the participants from various countries. Moreover, a formal meeting was held with Prof. Dr. Damirty Arseniew, Vice Rector SPbSPT and the Directors of various institutes of SPbSPU to discuss and identify possible areas of collaboration between CIIT and SPbSPU. Resultantly, the Vice Rector SPbSPU awarded a letter of Consent for Mutual Cooperation to CIIT, which was received by Mr. Asif Malik.

In the 2nd leg of his tour, Mr. Malik visited Moscow State University (MSU) at Moscow from May 26 to June 2, 2014 and had interaction with Russian students learning Urdu as 2nd language at Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAS). There he also delivered a talk to the faculty and students on the topic “Culture of Pakistan, Traditions & Rituals”. Later, a meeting was also organized with Prof. Dr. Nikolay V. Syomin, Vice Rector, International Cooperation, Prof. Dr. M.S. Meyer, President IAAS and Prof. Dr. Liudmila Khokhlova, Head Department of Indian Philology (IAAS) to underline mutual areas of cooperation between CIIT and IAAS. It was principally agreed that after signing a MoU, IAAS shall send its students of South Asian History and Urdu Language for short term internships at CIIT, Pakistan. As a memorandum of the visit, a Letter of Acknowledgement was given to Mr. Malik by the President of IAAS.

During his trip to Russia, Mr. Malik also had the opportunity to visit Institute of Oriental Studies of Russian, Academy of Sciences, to attend a seminar organized by Pakistani Consulate in Moscow. There he also met Prof. Luidmila Vasiliya, renowned Russian writer in Urdu Literature., who had already visited Pakistan many times in connection to her literary linkages with known Pakistani writers such as Mr. Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Mr. Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi. Further information on Pakistan was shared with faculty and PhD students of the Institute who were conducting research on various topics related to Pakistan such as revival of Urdu literature in Indo-Pak regions, Education System of Pakistan, Pakistani Economic Dynamics, Pakistan Civil Military Relations and its Religious situation.

Russia has a lot to offer to its visitors; rich culture, white nights of Saint Petersburg, great history, glorious symbols of architect and inevitable memories of the victory in great patriotic war against Nazism in 1945, altogether making Russiaa World in itself. The Russians are now in the process of exploring new horizons in education where they are trying to develop the best educational environment for its local as well as international students and scholars. Here Pakistani HEIs, especially CIIT, can be pioneer in developing academic and research linkages with Russian universities to share the experience and to promote the joint research activities.