An MOU between UMT, Lahore and Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, China, was signed to foster collaboration between the two varsities regarding combined research in the areas of information technology, computer science, engineering, locomotive technology and building infrastructure. Fei Rong, Vice President at Shijiazhuang Tiedao University and Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, Rector UMT, signed the MoU on bhehalf of their organizations. The Chinese delegation consisted of Hongzhuang Zhang, Director of International Students, Prof Zili Bai, Dean School of Internationalization Education, Cathy Cheu and others.
According to the terms of the MoU, faculty and student exchange program will be launched that would help train the manpower expected to play a key role in China Pakistan Economic Corridor. UMT professors will teach at the Chinese university whilst Chinese professors would be teaching necessary technical skills to Pakistani students at UMT. Similarly, students from both the sides would be provided opportunities to complete Master and PhD degrees on nominal fees. Furthermore, there will be no fees for UMT students who get registered in the doctorate programs. The process of the faculty and student exchange program would get started straight away.
Sharing his thought, Rector Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad said that UMT was preparing a skilled and trained manpower for CPEC. He said already a number of UMT alumni were rendering their services as CEOS in China’s top-tier companies that is a matter of satisfaction for us that all of our degree programs are comprehensive. He said that the MoU between the two universities would assist the governments of both the countries technically implement the mega project of CPEC.
It is worth mentioning that UMT is the only institution in the private sector, which is going for academic collaboration with China’s Shijiazhuang University. Expressing his views, Fei Rong said that we are delighted to sign an MOU with UMT, which we believe is one of the best universities of Pakistan. He said they would give an orientation to the Chinese Government about UMT as soon as they get back to China and seek more support for UMT students and faculty members coming to China. The Chinese delegation told Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad that UMT had been chosen for this collaboration after thoroughly investigating other public and private sector universities of Pakistan.