Swat University joins hands with two UK institutes

The Express Tribune

A Pakistani and two British universities have joined hands to benefit from each other’s experiences, exchange knowledge and promote understanding. The University of Swat has signed a memorandum of understanding with Leicester and Brunel universities to enable the exchange of faculty staff and students for academic and training purposes, said a press release issued by the university on Thursday. University of Swat Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan signed both the MoUs during his official visit to the United Kingdom. “Such linkage are no doubt, essential for university students and create a conducive environment for collaborative work in the field of higher education,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune. “The step will go a long way in the field of higher education and for the economic growth for the country,” he added. The academic circles in the valley have appreciated the move, dubbing it a positive step for the future of the newly-born university. “Exchange programmes are not only essential for students’ development but also indispensible for their intellectual growth and maturity,” commented Murad Ali, an educational expert. He opined that local students will benefit from orientation and exposure at foreign universities. “Such exchanges are instrumental in personality development. As students learn about traditional values and diversity of other countries, they get motivated,” Abdul Qayum, a professor at Jahanzeb College told The Express Tribune. “People learn from one another by human contact, they engage in discussions on various topics which change perceptions. This lends them an opportunity to widen their vision about different cultures and viewpoints of people.