The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and the Directorate of Quality Enhancement, University of Peshawar (UoP) have signed an agreement to promote need-based standardization as well as quality control assurance of the educational programmes, besides transfer of technology to the industry for the socio-economic development in the country. A formal agreement to this effect was signed by Vice Chancellor University of Peshawar Professor Dr Muhammad Asif and Director General PSQCA Muhammad Khalid Siddiq at UoP, said an official communiqué issued by the university here.
The agreement to remain effective underlines that both the parties, shall explore market oriented research and develop projects and other activities in the area of common interest. The organizations will also share their human and material resources including instruments services and facilities for the purpose.
To attain the set objectives the Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority will give representation to University of Peshawar experts/researchers in Technical Committees of PSQCA and the University of Peshawar will give representation to experts from PSQCA on their advisor bodies. Under the agreement the University of Peshawar will create standardisation, quality and Technology Management wing in the university and will provide expertise to carry out studies to PSQCA.
Speaking on the occasion the Vice Chancellor UoP Professor Dr Muhammad Asif said that attaining the desired quality assurance in the academic programmes and making it up to the demands of the job market was priority of the varsity. He added that accreditation of the University programmes is being made for the purpose in order to add value to our degree. He further stated that accreditation of the UoP labs will also be initiated with the help of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority under the agreement.
Bridging the gap between the academia and industry is need of the time and the University will take every possible step to connect local manufacturers with the graduating students to market research and polish their entrepreneurial skills. The MoU signing ceremony was followed by one day Quality Assurance Gala in which twenty industrial units of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated.