Another PACES Achievement
Representatives of the two universities meet |
Pakistani Americans Cultural and Educational Society (PACES) has been establishing academic linkages between Pakistani and American universities since its establishment on July 26, 2007. The first academic linkage facilitated by PACES was between George Washington University and NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar (UET) signed by both universities in November, 2007. The other academic linkage was established with the University of California, at Berkeley in March 2008. PACES negotiated and finalized the third academic linkage between UET and University of Maryland that was signed on April 28, 2008.
On May 7, PACES brought George Mason University (GMU) and UET Peshawar on the agreement table. The agreement was signed by Muhammad Sarwar Khan, Adviser Finance and Planning, on behalf of UET as Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, Vice Chancellor UET Peshawar, could not come due to some unavoidable circumstances. From GMU, Dr. Peter Stearns, Provost, Dr. Lloyd J. Griffiths, Dean Volgenau School of IT & Engineering, and Dr, Vikas Chandhoke, Dean, College of Science, signed the agreement. This is the fourth big success of PACES.
The academic linkage will be of five years duration. The UET will send approximately 18 teachers to GMU for MS and PhD studies. Both universities will engage in cooperation in the fields of common interest and shall develop joint research projects to promotte the exchange of scientific knowledge. They have agreed for exchange of faculty and students for research, teaching, seminars, and study. They have also agreed on exchange of scholarly publications and other information in areas of interest to both universities. On behalf of UET Peshawar, PACES will evaluate the financial and academic performance of UET scholars during their studies at GMU. After the completion of the program, it is hoped that research and teaching capability of UET Peshawar would be enhanced and a culture of useful research be promoted.
Dean Griffiths was aware of the efforts of PACES from day one when PACES submitted him the proposal of agreement between George Mason University and UET and later discussions and modifications made by PACES and GMU to finalize the agreement were conducted. However, he wanted to know more about PACES. Dr. Muhammad Munir, ex-Education Counselor, Embassy of Pakistan, and present President of PACES, furnished a brief introduction on PACES and told the participants that keeping in view the Mutual Educational and Cultural Act of 1961, which enables the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of Educational and Cultural Exchange; to strengthen the ties which unite the US with other nations, he established PACES with the objective outlined in that Act. PACES assists in the development of friendly and peaceful relations between the United States and Pakistan by fostering mutual understanding through its projects/activities that are mainly related to higher education.
Dr. Munir informed the participants that UET approached PACES and requested to negotiate academic linkages on their behalf with American universities. PACES accepted this responsibility and made a plan under which PACES contacts different American universities that are willing to enter into such linkages: PACES negotiates and discusses different options of collaboration. PACES keeps UET informed about major developments and when the draft agreements are finalized with an American university, an invitation to the Vice Chancellor, UET is extended to come and sign the agreement. So PACES is the main organization that conceives the proposal, negotiates, discusses, and finalizes the agreements.
Dr. Munir disclosed that a different type of academic linkage is under discussion with Old Dominion University, Virginia (ODU) by PACES. Under the proposed program UET teachers will study four courses of 12 credit hours at UET Peshawar and then come to ODU and complete their PhD. The result of their 12 credit hours at UET will be transferred to ODU to get the credit of those courses. He was confident that the agreement would be finalized next month and thereafter t Vice Chancellor UET will be invited to sign the agreement with ODU officials.
Dr. Munir offered his services to other Pakistani universities for the establishment of academic linkages. His e-mail address is drmunir@pacesus.org and phone Number 571-594-9063. PACES has many other projects which seek the establishment of educational institutions for imparting quality education in the rural areas of Pakistan, arranging lectures of American Professors in Pakistani universities, and establishment of Urdu Learning Centers in the USA for Pakistani children born in the USA, etc.
After signing the agreement Mr. Sarwar Khan briefed the participants about UET. He and Dean Dr. Griffiths appreciated the efforts of PACES. Dr. Munir commended the efforts and association of Dr. Daniel A. Menasce, Associate Dean and Dean Griffiths who actively worked with PACES to finalize the agreement.
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