Pakistan, Cuba to collaborate in Higher Education
Pakistan Times National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Cuba plan to enhance links in higher education, particularly in the field of biotechnology.

This possibility was discussed by Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Atta-Ur-Rehman during his meeting with Gustavo Machin Gomez, Cuban Ambassador to Pakistan at the HEC Secretariat Thursday.

Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, appreciating the Cuban gesture of awarding Pakistan 1000 scholarships for studies in medicine, proposed a joint programme for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology in Pakistan, which would be set up by HEC with Cuban technical expertise.

He said the proposed post graduate centre would have at least 100 PhD faculty members and over 1000 students at its completion, with at least top 20 Cuban scientists, each working for at least a year. Special emphasis would be given to linkages with industry.

Cuba's technical expertise, specially in biotechnology, could have its impact felt right across the Islamic world as scientists from 57 COMSTECH countries would be able to train and conduct research at the new Center, through COMSTECH.

Further cooperation was possible through establishment of linkages between existing institutions in Pakistan and Cuba in the field of biotechnology, said Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman.

The linkage would include exchange of scientists, conduct of joint research at doctorate and post doctorate level and linkages between industries.

Ambassador Gomez expressed his pleasure and willingness for the suggested collaboration and revealed that the area of biotechnology was one in which Cuba excelled, including the field of vaccines development and production, and creation of new pharmaceuticals.

"The best investment a country can make is investment in education," said the Ambassador," Cuba made such an investment over 40 years ago, and now we are reaping the harvest," he added.

It was further proposed that the programme to train 1000 students in study of medicine may be extended for specialization at PhD level in Biotechnology for a few hundred of these students from leading Cuban universities.

At present over 22,000 foreign students are studying in Cuba.●