LAHORE: The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) and Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT), Rahim Yar Khan, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost research and technical cooperation in all fields of technology.

At the MoU signing ceremony held at the UET`s committee room, Punjab minister for Higher Education Raja Yasir Humayun, UET Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Syed Mansoor Sarwar and KFUEIT VC Prof Dr Suleman Tahir were also present.

The terms of MoU include training of scientiñc and technical staff for teaching, research and development in the Helds of engineering and technology, cooperated scientific research and technological development programmes and projects of national interest.

Both the institutions would collaborate in projects of indigenous production of advanced scientific equipment and possibilities for researchers from KFUEIT to work in various UETdepartments as full-time researchers, supervision of research students in selected areas.

The institutes would also hold joint conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops and invite lectures of national and international stature, arrangements for provision of easy access to researchers to KFUEIT and UET campuses for collaborative research activities and use of each other`s research and teaching facilities.

Meanwhile, motivational speaker Qasim Ali Shah visited his alma mater UET and announced Rs10,000 20 scholarships for the students for over four years. Mr Shah, who had been studying at the UET chemical engineering department, also addressed the first-semester students.The scholarships will be granted to the selected students on the recommendation of the chairpersons of the departments concerned.

PU: The Punjab University (PU) Syndicate, on the suggestion of the Academic Council, on Wednesday recommended restructuring of 13 faculties with minor changes and creation of six new faculties for the approvalofthe Senate.PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar chaired the Syndicate meeting, while Lahore High Court`s (L HC) Justice Ameer Bhatti and other members participated in it.

The meeting decided to send the case of appointment of four pro-vice chancellors to parliament for discussion and its approval. It also recommended the service structure of private secretaries and stenographers to the Senate for approval, and approved the recommendations of the selection boards and appointment of various heads of departments.

Earlier, the university Academic Council had suggested the Syndicate restructuring of 13 faculdes and establishing six new faculties for recommendation to the Senate for approval.

A PU spokesman said that the administration was working for over two years to restructure the faculties to meet the latest requirements of knowledge.

The Punjab University Academic Staff Association has termed the restructuring of faculties a historic moment and said it would help produce quality graduates as per modern requirements of relevant fields.