CPEC University Consortium Hosts Senior Pakistani Academics in China
As part of academic initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor University Consortium, the second Advanced Training Programme for Senior Pakistani Academics recently concluded at Tianjin Foreign Studies University. The two-week programme hosted 24 faculty members from various Pakistani universities, providing specialized training in cutting-edge educational and technological domains.
The CPEC University Consortium, jointly established by the Higher Education Commission Pakistan and the China Association of Higher Education (CAHE), serves as a collaborative platform to strengthen higher education cooperation and capacity building between the two countries. The programme was officially incorporated into commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations.
The opening ceremony was graced by President TFSU Ms. Li Yingying, Vice President Mr. Zhu Pengxiao, and HEC Pakistan’s Director General (Global Engagement Division) Ms. Aayesha Ikram. Addressing participants, Ms. Li highlighted the programme as an enriching “journey of exploration,” emphasizing experiences in AI-empowered education, the inheritance of craftsmanship spirit, and intelligent manufacturing. She encouraged trainees to apply their learning to advance digital transformation in education, contribute to high-quality development under CPEC, and serve as ambassadors of China-Pakistan people-to-people connectivity.
Ms. Ikram highlighted the strategic role of HEC as Pakistan’s autonomous regulatory and funding body for higher education. She underlined its mandate to enhance academic quality, inclusion, relevance, and impact, ensuring universities produce skilled graduates, drive meaningful research, and foster innovation. She noted that conducting the second advanced training within two months reflects the strong trust and momentum of academic collaboration between Pakistan and China.
The programme’s earlier inauguration by Deputy Secretary-General of CAHE, Ms. Gao Xiaojie, emphasized the enduring friendship and partnership between the two countries. The training also focused on collaborative research, capacity building, and talent development in areas such as AI, international engineering, cultural modernization, and regional studies.
Dr. Abdul Samad of Loralai University, representing the trainee cohort, expressed gratitude for the programme, describing it as a transformative experience that offered deep insights into digital transformation in Chinese higher education. The training is expected to equip participating faculty members to lead innovation and contribute to the advancement of Pakistan’s higher education system under the CPEC framework.