COMSATS collaborated with the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO), and the Centre for Environmental Economics of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CEE-UCAS), China, to organize the fourth term of ANSO-BIDI School on ‘Innovation, Sustainable Development, and Leadership Enhancement’ under the Belt and Road International Innovation Development Institute Network (ANSO-BIDI Institute Network). COMSATS has been collaborating with CEE-UCAS to promote capacity-building of developing countries in the fields of science and technology under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2020.
The aim of the subject training is to provide a platform to the participants of developing countries to learn about advance concepts related to sustainable development and leadership enhancement.
The opening ceremony of the event was held virtually on 4th May 2022 and had the virtual participation of leaders from collaborating organizations; 42 trainees belonging to various COMSATS Member States, including Egypt, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sudan; as well as officials of COMSATS Secretariat. The event was opened by Prof. Desheng Wu, Dean of the Belt and Road College of UCAS, Director of the Research Centre for Environmental Economics of UCAS, China.
Speaking at the opening, Prof. Dr. Ashraf Shaalan, Chairperson COMSATS Coordinating Council, stated that the world is currently undergoing massive technological, demographic, environmental, and geopolitical developments that are posing numerous challenges as well as great opportunities for human development. He believed that collaborative efforts to build capacity, share experiences, and make advances in S&T areas are necessary to develop and implement solutions to socio-economic challenges. He mentioned that COMSATS has been playing an important role in facilitating socio-economic growth of the developing countries through a variety of initiatives related to capacity-building, collaborative research and development, and the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices. He assured that COMSATS will continue to play an active part in the ANSO-BIDI Institute Network to achieve collective goals.
The ceremony was followed by first module of the training during which Prof. Luis Seco, Director of RiskLab and President and CEO Sigma, Canada, delivered lecture on ‘Sustainability, Technology, and Social Sciences’.
The training would have 10 weekly modules spanning over 3 months during which professors and experts from reputable international scientific and academic institutions would impart training on topics concerning subject theme.
