The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) on 4th January 2018. Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, Executive Director COMSATS, and Dr. Farhat Haq, President AIPS, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. The signing was realized through cooperation between COMSATS and Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies.

Being the mother organization of one of the biggest higher education institutions of Pakistan, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, COMSATS is a torch-bearer of quality higher education in IT in the region. Established in 1973, AIPS is a bi-national research and educational organization with a mission to promote academic study of Pakistan in the US and to encourage scholarly exchanges between USA and Pakistani higher education community. The AIPS is a consortium of 38 US universities and academic institutes and is supported by Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, Department of State, USA, and Government of Pakistan. The cooperation between the two organizations could thus augment the higher education and research related activities in the member states and institutions.

The Memorandum aims to promote cooperation between the two organizations for enhancing research and capacity building activities. It focuses on promotion of cooperation in higher education and research, faculty training by foreign scholars, academic placements of faculty, share information and use the resources for COMSATS’ member countries and AIPS affiliated centers.

Under this MoU, both the organizations agree to jointly organize trainings and workshops by US academics for scholars and researchers, co-organize series of academic talks and seminars by visiting US researchers, and undertake joint programmes in areas of interest.