University of Peshawar and Nangarhar University Jalalabad, Afghanistan has reached an agreement under which both Universities would make efforts to encourage direct contact and research initiatives.
The MoU to remain effective for a period of three years was signed by Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan and Prof. Dr. Del Aqa Waqar, Vice Chancellor Academics Nangarhar University Afghanistan in a ceremony held at University of Peshawar.
Dean Faculty of Islamic and Oriental Studies Prof. Dr. Qibla Ayaz and Director Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies Prof. Dr. Miraj ul Islam Zia was also present on the occasion.
Under the agreement the two institutions would conduct joint researches and exchange academic material including publications. The two institutions would also exchange staff members for delivering lectures and discussions on topics relating to contemporary developments in the region. Besides biannual exchange of students would also took place for study and research in their fields of interest.
Pakistan and Afghanistan were two brotherly nations, while the former was determined to contribute towards its rebuilding and economic prosperity, said Vice Chancellor University of Peshawar Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan while talking with the visiting delegation.
He added that UoP has reserved one seat in every discipline for Afghan students and that too on fee charged from Pakistan students showed this institution resolve to make concrete efforts in enhancing the overall literacy rate of the war torn country.
While several teachers of Afghan varsities were pursuing their research degree programs in University of Peshawar would help in raising the overall standards of higher education in Afghanistan.
The Vice Chancellor termed international collaboration as an integral part of academic excellence and hoped that the two institutions can benefit from each other experience and help achieving the goal of establishing a knowledge based society on both sides of the divide.
Vice Chancellor Academics Nangarhar University Prof. Dr. Del Aqa Waqar said that University of Peshawar being the nearest foreign higher education institution to Afghanistan was playing a tremendous role in imparting quality education to Afghan nationals.
He added that the youth of Afghanistan was committed to take the country out of crisis and cooperation of Pakistani institutions can help them achieving the goal.
KP-Afghan varsity teachers vowed to work for religious harmony and unity of Ummah:?Participants of international workshop of Pak- Afghan University teachers on, “ modern research methodology in Islamic and Arabic Studies“ vowed to contribute towards religious harmony and unity of Umma under the umbrella of organization formed Qafila.
They said that display and use of hatred material selling on footpaths of every major city should be banned immediately and views of all section of the society be respected while religious differences should be dealt through open heart and interactive dialogue.
The participants viewed that government should take madrassa system under their control and ensure adoption of a uniform curricula over there.
The two day workshop was attended by around eighty teachers of Islamic Studies of varsities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Nangarhar University Jalalabad Afghanistan. Special interactive sessions on effective use of online material and other technological tools were delivered to make researchers current with the aim of objective analysis and probable outcomes in the moot. The event was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan at Bara Gali summer campus University of Peshawar.
Addressing the workshop the Vice Chancellor said that research plays an important role in elevating academic standards and career pathways in institutions of higher learning. He added that the field of Islamic Studies was a vast area of discipline that could provide a multitude of perspectives to researchers interested in exploring various aspects of this field. He added that Islamic and Arabic studies greatly contribute in knowledge discipline that can shape the direction of Umma and a value added society.
Less educated people are more prone to religious differences and there is a great need to train Ulema to further the true essence of Islam, said Dean Faculty of Islamic and Oriental Studies Prof. Dr. Qibla Ayaz. He added that interest of international players in the region since 1979 has been the main causative factor of religious differences.
Addressing the closing ceremony Vice Chancellor Academics Nanagarhar University Jalalabad said that he was overwhelmed by the outcome of the workshop. He added that Afghanistan has remained as the graveyard of empires and no one would be able to stop them from development and prosperity this time around.
The conference was jointly organized by Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies and Nanagarhar University with the financial support of higher education commission. It was attended by Director (IIARS) Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies Prof. Dr. Miraj ul Islam Zia, Registrar Dr. Syed Fazl I Hadi and good number students and researchers.
