Department of Biosciences, University of Wah (UW), in collaboration with Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC), organized a study trip for MS Biotechnology students to the Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST) on 31 December 2024. The primary aim of the visit was to provide graduate students an opportunity to experience a diverse academic environment, gain practical insights into course-related practices, and explore advanced research equipment. Another key objective was to establish research connections between the faculty members of UW’s Department of Biosciences and their counterparts at PAF-IAST to explore avenues for collaborative research initiatives. PAF-IAST warmly welcomed the UW delegation, which included four faculty members - Prof. Dr. Amjad Hassan (Professor), Prof. Dr. Syed Waqas Hassan (Professor), Dr. Razia (Assistant Professor), and Ms. Naheed Malik (Lecturer) - along with 18 students. They provided detailed briefings on their ongoing research projects, facilitating discussions on potential collaborative research areas. The group visited a range of state-of-the-art laboratories, including Physiology and Embryology, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemical Pathology & Hematology, Genomics, Histopathology & Immunohistochemistry, Confocal Microscopy, Plant Biotechnology, and Microbiology.
Students showed a keen interest in advanced lab equipment like Biosafety Cabinets and emergency showers. Prof. Dr. Amjad Hassan, Director ORIC-UW met informally with the Manager ORIC at PAF-IAST to discuss future collaboration. They welcomed Director ORIC-UW for a formal visit to explore the Business Incubation Center and Technology Park at PAF-IAST. Director ORIC, the course instructor, thanked the (PAF-IAST) faculty for their hospitality and valuable discussions. The trip was a rewarding experience for both students and faculty, promoting academic and professional growth.
