Islamabad: A delegation of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) led by Dr. Christian Hülshörster, Director Scholarships visited COMSATS University (CUI) on November 23, 2022. DAAD delegates included Mr. Philipp Effertz, Head of the Scholarship Programs Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region, Mr. Muhammad Khaskeia, Head of Joint Scholarships for MENA region, Mrs. Dagmar Beerwerth, Program Officer Scholarships as well as Ms. Dorota Magdalena Berezicki, First Secretary, German Embassy Islamabad and Ms. Yasmin Paracha, Interim Director, DAAD Information Center Pakistan. A team of German Professors comprising Dr. Wolfgang Tremel, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Dr. Axel Klein, University of Cologne and Dr. Ing. Ludger Klinkenbusch, Christian Albrechts University in Kiel was also part of the delegation.

The delegates visited Electrical & Computer Engineering and Biosciences Labs as well as the Junaid Zaidi Central Library. Prof. Dr. Sajid Qamar, Acting Rector CUI held a comprehensive meeting with the delegates along with Prof. Dr. Sajjad A. Madani, Registrar, Dr. Tahir Naeem, Director (P&D/HRD), Prof. Dr. Shahzad A. Malik, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Saqib Gulzar, Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, Prof. Dr. Jamshed Iqbal, Head, Centre for Advanced Drug Research (CADR), Prof. Dr. Laiq Khan, Chairperson, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Nawaz Shafqat, Chairperson, Biosciences, Prof. Shamsul Qamar, In-charge Academics, CUI-Islamabad Campus and Prof. Dr. Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Head, Inter-Disciplinary Center for Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), Prof. Dr. Rafaqat Hussain, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Mr. Ali Tawab Baloch, Head, International Office.

Prof. Madani briefed the delegates about COMSATS’ University Islamabad history, rankings, achievements and development plans. He informed the delegates that more than 70 German alumni are working at the varsity. He said that CUI offers more than 100 academic programs at the Bachelors, Masters and PhD levels. Over 33,000 students benefit from the university’s academic services, while a network of over 90,000 graduates comprises its alumni. THE ranked CUI 6^th in Pakistan and placed it in the band of 601-800 in world best universities rankings 2023.

The Director Scholarships highlighted DAAD’s programs, facts and responsibilities which include granting scholarships opportunities, promoting internationalization, strengthening German cultural and language studies and most importantly DAAD is helping countries establish productive higher educational institutions. Dr. Jamshed presented progress of Pak-German collaborations; Dr. Aqif, Head IRCBM presented engagements and achievements of his center in collaboration with German counterparts.

Avenues for COMSATS-DAAD partnership including scholarships for Afghani students studying at CUI, joint degree programs and joint institutional development programs, achievement of SDGs were discussed. Contributions by DAAD alumni to establish long-term and sustainable research projects jointly implemented by DAAD and COMSATS were deliberated. A DAAD funded Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) was inaugurated by the delegated. CUI offered its expertise to DAAD to establish a university of Mining and Minerals in Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Jamshed Iqbal, Professor of Pharmacy and Mr. Ali Tawab Baloch, Head, International Office were assigned as the focal persons from COMSATS University.