ISLAMABAD: On the invitation of Turkish Council of Higher Education (COHE), a two-member delegation of Higher Education Commission, Pakistan led by Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC visited Ankara to sign the Document of Understanding for providing 80 PhD slots to Pakistani students in top ranking Turkish universities.

As per agreement, COHE Turkey will allocate 80 PhD slots in top universities of Turkey and waive tuition fee or bring it to minimum, while HEC will facilitate travel and provide stipend to the selected candidates. Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed and Prof. M. A. Yekta Saraç, President COHE signed the DoU.

Various other opportunities were also discussed with President COHE and Members of the Council, including joint researchers’ mobility grant programme entitled as “Pak-Turk Researchers’ Mobility Grant Programme”. Under the programme, HEC will fund travel of Pakistani researchers to Turkey while COHE will fund Turkish researchers’ travel to Pakistan.

Furthermore, Thematic Research Center in Material Sciences will be established in Pakistan with the coordination of Turkish Universities. It was also discussed that a Technology Park will be established in Pakistan and Turkish Universities will provide the technical assistance.

The President also gave detailed presentation on the role of COHE and its future roadmap.—PR