Academic collaboration: Punjab and Bielefeld universities sign agreement

Punjab University and Bielefeld University, Germany, Department of Public Health Medicine have signed an agreement of academic collaboration. PU External Linkages Director Professor Dr Najma Najam signed the agreement during her visit to Bielefeld University.
Under the agreement, through faculty exchange programme, both junior and senior faculty may visit to German University (for short term and long term basis) to refresh their knowledge and technical know-how. The faculty members may also collaborate with the German colleagues for joint research publications.
German professors may also act as PU's PhD examiners and external reviewers for professorial positions. PU academicians may also submit their scientific work in German research journals for publications.
For students, there could be various levels of collaboration. German students who are working on topic related to developing countries may come to Pakistan for data collection and internship to get first-hand knowledge of the developing set-up. University of the Punjab will facilitate these students.
Similarly, Masters and PhD students of Punjab University will also visit Germany for short-term basis (may be for one semester) or for long term basis (for two years, or for the whole degree duration). PhD level students may also visit Bielefeld University for short period to complete their review of literature by consulting German library (under sandwich model).
Delegation also talked about the opportunities for joint research projects. There are areas like conservation of environment, global warming, problems of mega cities, food insecurity and international migration where various faculties of Punjab University and Bielefeld University are interested. As the collaborative relations strengthen, research projects will be proposed and conducted in these areas.
Dr Najam also identified areas where comprehensive, broad-based and long-term academic collaboration between the two universities could be developed. During the meetings, German academicians expressed deep interest and enthusiasm for developing linkages with Pakistani universities in various academic disciplines. The proposed collaboration included in the areas of faculty exchange, students exchange and joint research projects. The meetings were co-ordinated by Professor Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar and Dr Rubeena Zakar who are presently based in Bielefeld University.