GCU, Durham University to initiate joint projects

The Government College University (GCU) and Durham University, United Kingdom agreed on Friday to initiate collective research projects and joint academic programmes in the field of science, information technology, arts and humanities.
The decision was made in a meeting of Durham University, UK International Office Director Sharne Procter with GCU Faculty of Science and Technology Dean Prof Dr Ikram-ul-Haq and Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Director Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Butt, at the GCU Vice Chancellor Office.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Prof Zakria Butt said that the Durham University has also showed interest in providing scholarships for the deserving students of GCU, who have been selected for studying joint-degree programmes in UK. He said that the academic experts of both universities would explore the areas for research and joint-degree programmes. The GCU also laid stress on enhancing cooperation for the cultural understanding of both institutions by organising joint seminars, conferences and faculty exchange programmes. Both the universities also deliberated on sharing information with each other for research projects.
GCU Dean Prof Ikram-ul-Haq expressed his confidence in the research and troubleshooting capabilities of the GCU faculty, adding that new processes and working solutions were being developed for the local industry at the university. He said that the Pakistani researchers were highly talented and only needed resources and opportunities. Sharne Procter said that in UK, the universities’ cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural research shapes local, national and international agendas. She said that that the quality and influence of Durham University’s research was well-recognised and it was ranked among the top 30 universities of the world for the citations of Durham research by global academics.