KARACHI: Registrar of National University of Technology (NUTECH) Dr. Syed Adnan Qasim has proposed to establish a joint NUTECH-KCCI ‘Need-Driven’ platform of relevant industries and academic experts to upgrade the existing and design/ develop state-of-the-art industrial, vocational colleges, technological institutes and research centers at Karachi.
Seeking KCCI’s support to NUTECH for revival of the industry, Registrar NUTECH further suggested to carry out joint planning for setting up NUTECH future campus at Karachi, besides inking a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NUTECH and KCCI to cover all the aspects for strong long term relations between the two organizations.
While delivering a presentation during the visit of NUTECH delegation to KCCI which was led by Air Vice Marshall Rana Anees Latif, Dr. Adnan Qasim said that NUTECH has been established with objectives to build the nation through technology and skills education for progressive growth and development of the industries in Karachi as well.
President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, Senior Vice President Khurram Shahzad, Vice President Asif Sheikh Javaid along with representatives from various universities in Karachi and KCCI Managing Committee Members also attended the presentation.
Dr. Adnan Qasim said, “Our objectives for the industries in Karachi are to produce technologically advanced and professionally capable Human Resource and develop innovative HR in technology & skills to revive different sectors in Karachi, besides offer cost effective and research driven solutions and promote entrepreneurship and enterprise development for industrial sector in Karachi.”
Highlighting the objectives for establishing NUTECH, he stated that exponentially rising unemployment of educated youth, declining exports, struggling industry, slowdown of national economy and ill-preparation of industry for upcoming 4th industrial revolution were the major challenges of today hence, as a national cause NUTECH was established as University for National Industry.
He said that NUTECH was created as a joint national project of Federal Government, three Armed Forces and Higher Education Commission which is envisaged to transform load-ridden economy into real knowledge driven one through technology based value added exports. “NUTECH is the first effort at national level to revive the industry and take it to new heights of glory for strengthening the national economy”, he added.
Earlier President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, while welcoming the NUTECH delegation, stressed that for a sustained success in businesses, deep, long-term, strategic partnerships were essential between industry and academia which provides the basis for a strong innovation system. “It is apparent that while industry can provide the expertise, on ground experience and financing for emerging technologies, academia provides research, innovation and capacity building. In fact, academia is the most important source of introducing latest technological trends in businesses”, he added.
He was of the opinion that students should be encouraged to further improve their ideas and innovations and create new business success stories. An increasing global emphasis on innovation in universities calls for greater cooperation between higher education institutions and industry. Collaborations between university researchers and companies can result in project outcomes that have a major impact on a company’s competitiveness or productivity.
Industrial cooperation coupled with regional integration is key to the economic growth, Junaid Makda said, adding that KCCI, on its part, was fully prepared to play its role as a facilitator and match maker in industry-academia partnerships owing to its critical role in Karachi’s business and its cordial relations with the Sindh government.
Junaid Makda also agreed that both institutions must form a joint working group and also sign a MoU to create strong linkages so that both could work collectively for the revival of industries in Karachi.
