The United States Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar facilitated a conference in Islamabad under the banner of “International Perspectives on Research and Teaching” on the theme of business administration. The conference marked the culmination of a three-year university partnership between the University of Kentucky in the United States and a consortium of five universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Faculty members from some of the partner institutions presented post-doctoral papers and highlighted areas of joint cooperation and development.
The University Partnership Program featured thirty professors from five universities in the KP visit the University of Kentucky for eight weeks for post-doctoral training and to conduct research in the United States. The United States Government has provided $1.8 million to support this partnership program between the American and KP universities.
Moulik D. Berkana, the Public Affairs Officer from the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar opened the conference with officials from the partner institutions. The five public sector universities linked to the program include the University of Peshawar, Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, the Institute of Management Sciences in Peshawar, Kohat University of Science & Technology, and the University of Science & Technology in Bannu.
“Our collaboration with the KP Consortium universities has meant so much for those of us from the University of Kentucky,” said Nancy Johnson, the Associate Dean of International Affairs, Gatton College of Business and Economics, University of Kentucky, in a video message.
“Together, we have created interesting research, engaging classroom experiences for students, and lasting friendships. We will continue to search for ways to work together for years to come,” she added.
Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali, the vice chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, stated, “The project has led the business schools to transform their curricula and develop and execute joint research. Above all, it has led to friendship and future partnerships that will prosper.”
This university linkage program began in 2013. It provided an opportunity to the faculty of University of Kentucky to visit Pakistan to train the trainers of partner universities in faculty and curriculum development and pedagogical skills. These partnerships are part of a broad effort to connect American and Pakistani universities and strengthen cooperation, increase research capacity, update and develop curriculum, and engage in collaborative research.
