Professor Dr Peter Langer, Chair of Organic Chemistry of the University of Rostock (Germany), has made a personal contribution of 15,000 euro for an Educational Centre in Umerkot, being set up by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). The donation will be utilised to provide stipends to poor students. The regional center Umerkot is planned to be inaugurated in March this year.
The donation was announced during a visit of the vice chancellor of AIOU, Professor Dr Nazir A. Sangi to Germany on invitation of Professor Langer. During the visit, a MoU for the establishment of a center of excellence in the field of chemistry at AIOU with the help of Professor Langer was signed.
"The concept of AIOU to support and educate poor people in rural areas of Pakistan is excellent", Professor Langer says. "I am very happy to support the educational center at Umerkot, which is an excellent project and contribution to the people of Pakistan". Professor Langer has been supporting Pakistani students for many years. In the period 2005 - 2010 about 15 Pakistan students received their Ph.D under his supervision at the University of Rostock.
In the next two years, 10 additional students from Pakistan will complete their Ph.D under the supervision of Professor Langer. This situation is unique outside Pakistan and contributes to a very good image of Pakistan in the world. In recent years, 10 former students joined Pakistani Universities as assistant professors. Professor Langer stresses that he likes to see his Pakistani students to return to Pakistan to serve their country.
For the graduate education of Pakistani students, Professor Langer has been investing approximate 450.000 euro and about 120 publications in high-ranked international journals were published by him together with Pakistani students accumulating more than 350 impact factor points. Several cultural events have been organised by Professor Langer and his team to bring Pakistani culture more close to the people of Germany.