LUAWMS and China’s Dalian Ocean University sign MoU on marine sciences

LASBELA: A high-level delegation of the Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), Pakistan, visited Dalian Ocean University (DLOU) in China. It was led by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Malik Tareen and travelled on the directions of MNA Lasbela and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan Alyani. The aim of the visit was to promote academic cooperation in marine sciences and strengthen long-term ties between the two universities.

On the occasion, the two universities signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). It is an important step towards widening academic and scientific partnership between China and Pakistan and between the two universities.

The LUAWMS delegation included Registrar Balach Rasheed, Dean of the Faculty of Education Ahmed Nawaz Khosa and Dr Mohsin Ali Kalhoro. The delegation was received by DLOU Vice President Prof Liu Wenhe. Representatives of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation and the College of Marine Science and Environment were also present. The Dean of the Marine College, Prof Zhongming Huo, along with Prof Sang, Prof Tian Jie and Prof He, also took part in the meeting and technical sessions.

Areas of cooperation and scholarships for students

During the meeting, both universities gave a comprehensive account of their academic strengths, research achievements and future development strategies. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as marine big data and its applications, marine environmental change, modern aquaculture, fisheries science and marine resource management.

It was also agreed to set up joint research projects, faculty and student exchange programmes, joint scientific publications, joint supervision of postgraduate students and joint research platforms under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Another important outcome of the talks was that outstanding LUAWMS students will be given scholarships in the near future. They will pursue bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees at Dalian Ocean University in marine science, fisheries, oceanography and environmental sciences, and contribute to the development of these fields. The step will build academic capacity, produce a highly trained workforce and create new opportunities for scientific cooperation between the two universities.

During the visit, the delegation also toured DLOU’s modern research laboratories, aquaculture research and breeding centres and the Northern Marine Data Engineering Application Centre. There they observed the modern research infrastructure and ongoing scientific projects in detail. The LUAWMS delegation met undergraduate and postgraduate students, held academic discussions with faculty and exchanged experiences and information on marine sciences, fisheries, environmental research and various aspects of higher education.

The delegation’s visit to China further strengthened mutual trust between the two institutions and opened new avenues for joint academic and research cooperation. At the end of the visit, both universities reaffirmed their resolve to maintain a strong and lasting strategic partnership to promote academic standards, scientific innovation, workforce development and sustainable maritime development.

The newly signed MoU will provide a strong base for academic opportunities, joint research and people-to-people contacts between the two institutions. It will also play an important role in further strengthening the long-standing friendship and scientific cooperation between China and Pakistan.

It may be noted that, through the efforts of Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, Lasbela University is making its mark in the education sector as Pakistan’s first marine university and reaching new milestones. The special interest of Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail is also seen as an important step towards the development of the education sector.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan