Islamabad (GNP) : A delegation of Turkish universities, led by Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan İrfan Neziroğlu, visited the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan to discuss bilateral matters aimed at expanding cooperation in higher education. 

The delegation, comprising Prof. Dr. Fatih Yılmaz from Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Keleş from Adıyaman University, Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Göktaş from Fırat University, and Prof. Dr. Mutlu Türkmen from Bayburt University alongside officials from the Turkish embassy, called on Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and other HEC officials, expressing keen interest in expanding bilateral academic and research engagements.  

The two sides agreed to strengthen relations in the emerging fields, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digitisation, while promoting joint research in medicine, agriculture, physics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, social sciences, and languages including Urdu and Turkish. They also discussed enhancing collaboration through student and faculty exchange programmes, joint research and innovation development initiatives, conferences, summer exchange programmes, visiting scholar programmes in specialised areas, joint and dual degree programmes, and online learning modules in various disciplines.    

Both sides proposed establishing a pool of experts from both countries who could collaborate on areas such as natural, biological, and social sciences, strategic studies, defence-related research, and policy papers addressing the evolving global landscape.

Chairman HEC and the Turkish Ambassador agreed to compile a list of experts in relevant fields who could be designated as visiting faculty to deliver physical and online courses and undertake collaborative research activities.

Chairman reiterated HEC’s commitment to supporting the advancement of higher education and further strengthening the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.