Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote telecom related research that would be beneficial for both the organisations, the telecom industry as well as for the country.
The MoU would also boost mutual co-operation in the relevant fields and would enhance the industry academia linkage, said a press release issued on Thursday. PTA Chairman Dr Mohammed Yaseen and UET Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammed Abbas Chaudhary were present while representatives of PTA and UET signed the MoU in a ceremony held at UET.
This MoU would be valid for (five) years and would be renewed on completion. Main objectives of this collaboration are to support research activities and to equip future leadership with theoretical and practical training in policy and regulatory issues of telecom sector.
It is expected that related organisations would benefit from this collaboration, as young experts would be conducting research in the relevant fields of telecom with guidance of the faculty and PTA.
On this occasion, PTA Chairman Dr Mohammed Yaseen said the PTA would provide data on telecom sector and expertise to UET Taxila, reciprocally the University would encourage its students to undertake research in different areas of telecom sector. He said under the MoU, PTA would help UET in identification of research areas. Similarly, UET would cooperate with PTA on different issues of trade, business and economy related to telecom sector.
The VC said, "we are looking for possibility to set up a Chair on Telecommunications at UET. We have also plans to start masters and doctorate programmes in telecom regulations. We want to establish an institution for telecom research as well".
This is the third MoU signed between PTA and any university. Similar understanding exists with Comsats and Nust. PTA has been working continuously towards encouragement of research activities in telecom sector. Being an academia friendly organisation it has taken initiatives to establish strong linkages with educational institutions for the promotion of telecom research.