GCU, Urban Unit ink MoU on uplift

LAHORE

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Urban Unit and Government College University, Lahore for co-operation, partnership and exchange programmes in various domains regarding urban development.

According to a press release issued by Urban Unit here on Tuesday, in a well–attended ceremony held at the GCU VC office, the CEO Urban Unit Dr Nasir Javed and GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah signed the MoU to enhance cooperation in ‘Internship of students at Urban Unit, sharing and easy access of data, libraries, laboratories and other resources for mutual benefits, as and when required’. Further, they will collaborate in pursuing joint training, scientific research and development projects while making sound participation in workshops, conferences and seminars held on each other’s premises. 

The memorandum also includes staff and expertise sharing programmes for facilitation of both parties and to develop a successful model of urban studies and practice put into action together. Under this partnership, the Urban Unit will provide internship opportunity, including access to research facilities to GCU students for their research work along with providing job placement opportunities to GCU graduates on priority basis subject to the HR policy of the Company.

Both Urban Unit and GCU will make their libraries, laboratories and research facilities accessible to faculty and students on mutual basis, when possible. Sharing of and access to specialised instrumentation and equipment shall be furnished by the both for joint and collaborative research projects. Joint training and research projects will be arranged on a collaborative basis, with a view to promote the image of both institutions as disseminators of the state-of-the-art knowledge in the relevant research fields. The MoU will enable both to work out ways in which the PhD students may be made available for senior positions created from time to time at the Urban Unit. Similarly, the staff of Urban Unit will be given such research positions, if any, from time to time at the GCU.

Joint workshops, conferences and lectures for students, researchers, teaching faculty as well as the professionals in the field of Urban Planning & Sustainable Development, will also be held.

“The world is moving towards urbanisation as a goal in this century. With dedicated and well-directed efforts made both by the theory and practice people in relevant fields, we can expect a better urban future for Pakistan. Urban Unit is an institution par excellence with international fame of devising the urban growth strategy for Pakistan and it will be an honour joining hands with them also giving our students a chance to accelerate professionally,” said Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah after the MoU ceremony.