Islamabad, August 25, 2025 — COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) hosted a delegation from Finland’s Tampere University on August 25, 2025. The delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Moncef Gabbouj, Professor of Signal Processing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. He was accompanied by Dr. Fahad Sohrab, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tampere University & University of Eastern Finland, and Dr. Asif Sohrab (Guest), General Physician (MD) and CEO of Doctor ASKY.

A globally recognized scholar, Prof. Gabbouj is an IEEE Fellow, member of Academia Europaea, and former Academy of Finland Professor, with over 800 publications in artificial intelligence, machine learning, signal and image processing, and multimedia analytics.

During a formal meeting, Dr. Hammad Omer, T.I., Head International Office, provided insights on CUI’s academic profile, historical and administrative background, strengths, international collaborations, and vision for the future. Senior CUI faculty members in attendance were from the Department of Computer Engineering, Dr. Syed Junaid Nawaz, Head/ Tenured Associate Professor, Dr. Syed Saud Naqvi, Tenured Associate Professor (AI Expertise); Dr. Atif Shakeel, Assistant Professor (AI Expertise); along with Finnish alumni Dr. Irfan Ullah Khattak and Dr. Haider Ali, both serving as Assistant Professors at CUI.

Dr. Omer highlighted CUI’s historic MoUs signed in 2007 with Tampere University of Technology and Helsinki University of Technology under the visionary leadership of Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, H.I., S.I., and Founder Rector of CUI. Under these MoUs, six CUI faculty members pursued MS degrees at Tampere University of Technology and four CUI faculty members at Helsinki University of Technology, which strengthened the University’s research and academic capabilities. The Finnish alumni of CUI shared their experiences studying at Tampere University and highlighted how the collaboration enriched CUI’s academic landscape.

Seizing this opportunity, Dr. Omer proposed the revival of the MoU with Tampere University of Technology, aiming to re-establish similar channels for joint research, faculty development, and student exchanges.

The visitors were given a tour of the Junaid Zaidi Library and other campus facilities. Before departure, the delegates paid a courtesy call on Prof. Dr. Sajid Qamar, Rector of CUI, and brief interactions with the Deans of the Faculties of Business Administration and Architecture & Design.

The visit showcased University’s dedication to expanding global partnerships and building on its successful history with Finnish institutions. It marked a pivotal step towards reviving the MoU with Tampere University, promoting collaborative research, faculty growth, and student mobility, while reinforcing CUI’s mission to strengthen international engagement and advance academic excellence through cross-border knowledge exchange.