University of Wah (UW) and Hubei University, Wuhan, China, are further strengthening their academic, research, and institutional collaboration through expanded initiatives in student & faculty mobility, joint research, scientific exchange, and innovation.
In this regard, Dr. Muhammad Sultan Irshad, School of New Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hubei University, China, visited University of Wah on 31 August and met with Prof. Dr. Jameel- Un Nabi, Vice Chancellor, UW. The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Uzma Ghazanfar, Dean, Basic Sciences; Prof. Dr. Amjad Hassan, Director, ORIC; and Dr. Asma Arif, Focal Person, Hubei University, China.
The existing Two-Way Student and Faculty Linkage Agreement between UW and Hubei University facilitated the visit. Discussions focused on expanding student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects & publications, international conferences, study & industry tours, and other academic initiatives.
A key proposal discussed during the meeting was the establishment of a Confucius Institute of Languages (CIL) at UW with an autonomous funding mechanism for sustainable operation. The proposed institute would promote China-Pakistan friendship and provide a platform for academic, scientific, cultural, and language exchange. A joint Board of Members comprising representatives from China and Pakistan was also proposed.
Dr. Irshad, who has been appointed as a Chu Tian Scholar for five years by the Hubei Provincial Government, China, and is a recipient of the NSFC-RFIS-1 award as Principal Investigator, with funding of RMB 0.4 million, has made significant contributions to the growing academic linkage between the two institutions. He has supervised seven PhD students and one exchange student from UW and has played an instrumental role in establishing the Wuhan (China-Pakistan) Joint Laboratory for Extreme Environment New Energy Storage and Grid-Connection Technology, launched by Hubei University in partnership with UW.
The collaboration is also aligned with the broader objectives of CPEC the Belt and Road scientific & technological innovation framework, with particular emphasis on advanced energy research, sustainable & resilient energy systems, extreme environmental challenges, and Life Sciences. The initiatives further contribute to the commemoration of 75 years of China-Pakistan bilateral relations.
At the end, Prof. Dr. Jameel-Un Nabi, Vice Chancellor, UW, presented a shield and a Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Muhammad Sultan Irshad in recognition of his valuable contributions towards strengthening academic and scientific collaboration between the two universities.
