Agriculture engineers for strong academia-industry linkages

Agriculture engineers have emphasized the need for strong academia-industry linkages, while stressing upon its significance for knowledge-based economy, they said that these linkages will help in reducing poverty and competing with the rest of the world.
They made these remarks during a seminar titled 'Industry Academia Linkage' arranged by Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) in connection with HEC 15 years of Excellence celebrations, at Video Conference Room.
Chairing the session, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said that knowledge based economies are proving their mettle in the world and as a result, it is not only addressing the problems of humankind but also raising the standards of living. He showed his concern that the country was experiencing weak academia industry linkage that must be cemented. He said that in developed countries 80 percent of research was being conducted on the funding of industry. He said the researches should not be piled up in the libraries. It must address the issue of the industry and common man. He urged the researchers to conduct researches keeping the issues of the common man in view. Lauding the steps being taken on the part of HEC for the promotion of education, he said that HEC had made marvelous contributions since its inception. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Engineering UAF Dr. Allah Buksh said that there is a need to further strengthen the academia-industry ties for the benefit of the common man. He said that an innovative idea can change one's life. He said that University was making all out efforts to fill the gap between the academia and industry ties. He praised the measures being taken on the part of the Higher Education Commission for ensuring the quality education and for provision of skilled manpower. Additional Director General Faisalabad Development Authority Amir Aziz said that industry-academia linkages provide the basis for a strong innovation system, enabling environment for increased creativity. He said that ties must be further strengthened to address the different issues.