Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bahria University to promote academia-industry linkages and to conduct joint research activities that would facilitate the advancement and innovation in industry. Shaban Khalid, President ICCI and Vice Admiral (Retd) Shahid Iqbal HI (M), Rector, Bahria University signed the MoU.
 

Both organizations agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in many areas including arranging internships and job placement for the students and run joint professional development short courses on specialized fields.
 

Speaking at the occasion, Shaban Khalid, President, ICCI said that developed nations have achieved tremendous economic progress only by promoting academia-industry linkages and we should learn from their experience to lay the foundation for sustainable economic development of our country. 
 

He said universities are hubs for innovation and improved academia-industry collaboration would lead to increased and diversified economic activities. He said students & universities along with the industry can be engine of economic growth and together can play an instrumental role in self reliance for the nation in the areas of research and innovation. He said such collaboration will also help in conceptualization and conversion of innovative ideas into technologically reliable economic opportunities. 
 

He appreciated the efforts of Bahria University for providing quality education to youth and helping it to become productive citizens of the country. He hoped that MoU of cooperation between ICCI and Bahria University would contribute positively to promoting demand-driven education and need-based research activities.
 

Vice Admiral (Retd) Shahid Iqbal HI (M), Rector, Bahria University said that our university never compromised on quality standards and is working towards grooming today’s youth into becoming tomorrow’s leaders. Over 10,000 students are getting quality education in different campuses, research institutes and colleges of Bahria. He was of the view that universities cannot operate as isolated islands of knowledge because knowledge has no value unless it is shared and focused on current needs. He said bridges need to be built to connect universities with clusters of industries to meet the emerging needs of society. Due to quality performance of Bahria’s Innovation and Incubation Center, it has been awarded Microsoft Innovation Center status.
 

He said efforts of Bahria’s Maritime Policy Research Institute are of strategic importance. The institute is focusing on teachers’ education and promoting the research potential of students which will enable them to use their academic knowledge for practical projects. He said not only permanent, but visiting faculty from the business and corporate sector visits Bahria University to share their practical knowledge and experience to students. He was hopeful that ICCI & Bahria University’s cooperation will produce beneficial results for students as well as to the industry.