University Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) and Iqra University (IU) are committed to take part in the advancement of knowledge and learning by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday (3/12). The event, which took place in the rectorate room, 2nd floor of UAI on hybrid, was attended by Prof. Dr Wasim Qazi (The President/Vice Chancellor of IU), Prof. Dr. Kamran Raza (Dean Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology of IU), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zaki Rashidi (Chairman Faculty of Business Administration and Director Bahria Town Campus of IU), Prof. Dr. Syed Ali Raza (Director Research and Publications and Director North Campus of IU), Ms. Mufarrah Malik (Head Corporate Liaison and International Linkages of IU) together with H.E Dr. June Kuncoro Hadiningrat (Consul General of The Republic of Indonesia in Karachi), and his delegations.

In the first agenda, Prof. Dr. Ir. Asep Saefuddin, M.Sc. (The Rector of UAI) opened the moment with his remark virtually.

Pakistan has a tight relation with Indonesia and to strengthen this UAI aspired to improve the quality of our education, having the chance to collaborate with IU as one of the leading universities as well as to take part in contributing to achieve SDGs by advancing science with the integration of knowledge,” Prof. Asep stated.

Equally important, Prof. Dr Wasim Qazi expressed his appreciation to the UAI and Indonesian Consulate in Karachi for connecting all the parties to this special moment. He is really glad to present IU to Indonesia, specifically UAI for the planned collaboration that will soon be implemented.

We are very welcomed to International students, IU has more than 450 faculties and 50 of them are international standard-based and we cannot wait to bring those experiences to UAI’s students and researchers”, Prof. Wasim said.

Added some words, Dr. Ir. Ade Jamal (The Vice Rector IV for Innovation and Cooperation of UAI) gave his concern to a historical and profound relation that Indonesia and Pakistan have, especially in education. The cooperation between IU and UAI can be the gateway to nurture excellence through collaboration for students, lecturers, and researchers.

On the occasion, H.E Dr. June Kuncoro Hadiningrat spent his time presenting a speech. His Excellency was proud to witness this cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan as leading universities globally. It is the 2nd agreement that UAI has this year, together with Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU). It was his belief that the collaboration would be actualized sooner than we thought as Indonesian and Pakistanis are people who are passionate and serious in realizing their objectives. Also, at this moment His Excellency invited all the students from the two universities to join Indonesia-Pakistan Youth Forum (IPYF) to discuss current issues and challenges related to the empowerment of young people in personal development, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Before the end of the event, UAI presented a placard to IU as the symbol of the cooperation and vice versa. By signing MoU between the two universities on students exchange programs, Faculty exchange programs, mutual research for socio-economic impact, scholarly activities including conferences, seminars, and symposia, other areas of mutual academic interests, the objectives are progressively possible to be achieved along with to improve the quality in higher education and publication in impact factor journals by leading sciences.

Joining the event, Ir. Hidayat Yorianta Sasaerila, M.Sc., Ph.D., (Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology) and Dr. Lusi Lian Piantari, S.S., M.Hum. (Dean of the Faculty of Humanities) (TSH).