HEC to Set Up Engineering University with Italian Collaboration
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Government of Italy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the establishment of a University of Engineering Science and Technology in Pakistan.
The document was signed by Mr. Gianni Vernatti, Deputy Foreign Minister on behalf of the Italian Government while Prof. Dr. Atta ur Rahman represented the Pakistani Government at the HEC Secretariat on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference following the MoU signing, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman HEC said “This represents an important step in Pakistan’s transition from an agricultural economy to a knowledge economy”. He told the gathering that 4500 students for the nine engineering universities will be sent abroad to for PhD studies. They will eventually form the faculty of those universities which will be established with the help of Rs. 250-300 billion in the next 10 years.
The Chairman praised Italy for its strong technical base which will help Pakistan in establishing the university. The university will be headed by the vice chancellor from Italy while top professors and deans will also be from the collaborating country. They will oversee the development of the university for 10-12 years, will ensure quality criteria, guarantee quality of examination system and ensure the equivalence of the degree with the highest standards prevailing in their own country. Under the faculty development programme 100 students per year will be placed in Italian universities for PhD programmes.
Politecnico di Torino, one of the most prestigious technico-scientific institutions in Italy for engineering and architecture will lead the Consortium of universities which will provide technical support and expertise for setting up a world class university probably in Karachi.. It is a research university with close connections with international institutions and high tech companies with all the technical expertise to provide assistance for setting up a high level engineering university.
Other universities in the Consortium will include those in Milano, Bologna, Naples and Bari. At the Masters level the disciplines to be offered include Electrical Engineering, ICT, Industrial Engineering and Design, Civil Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Plastic, Textile and Mechanical Engineering as well as VSLI Design. At the Bachelors level, ICT, Industrial Civil and Electronic Engineering will be offered.
The university will impart high quality engineering and science education to students in engineering and science at a standard identical to accredited international standards thus catering for the industrial, technological, product development and research needs of Pakistan in the future. Instruction will include the latest developments in engineering curriculum, teaching methodology and laboratory standards as well as promoting effective R&D activities in the engineering sector in line with advances in the international as well as partner’s university and in other industrialized nations.