Daily Times

HYDERABAD: The Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) on Monday approved six students for a Summer Entrepreneurship Exchange Tour to University of Utah and Colorado State University in USA.

Reportedly, the departed group has six MS students, a faculty member and two technical staff members of the US-Pak Centre for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W).

Before their departure, the academics and research department deputy director Dr Rasool Bux Mahar conducted a consultative meeting with them in which he observed that the exchange visit would be beneficial for the faculty, students and technical staff to enhance their research skills, respectively.

“You are the ambassadors of Pakistan and you have a great opportunity to project a positive image of your country through study, research and cultural activities,” Dr Mahar remarked.

He stated that USPCAS-W was established by a generous support of American people through the United States Agency International Development (USAID).

He said that the exchange visit is one of the prominent features of the USPCASW – the MUET Water Center, which is fully funded by USAID.

“The summer exchange programme 2018 aims to inspire the next generation of water entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The programme emphasises to develop business, ventures and technologies for achieving targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)-6 that is clean water and sanitation for all.

Dr Mahar advised them to carry out academic, research, co-curricular and cultural activities effectively, and interact constructively with American professors during their stay in USA.

“Besides, the exchange programme would provide exposure to other students belonging to different parts of the world that would serve as a great opportunity for networking and communication between different cultures,” he added.

On the occasion, Dr Mahar also appreciated Hamid Ali Shaikh, who is the newly appointed exchange and scholarship coordinator of the centre for his efforts.

Tanveer Ahmed Gadhi, a research associate of USPCAS-W (MUET) also attended the meeting and counseled the exchange visitors to take essential precautionary measures for their journey to USA.

The exchange period is comprised of two and half months, in which the visitors would participate in specific courses and work on their respective research projects.

The University of Utah is the partner university that provides technical assistance to advance the development and sustainability of the centre.

Prior to this visit, 13 faculty members and 68 students including 23 female visitors have availed the opportunity of exchange scholarship.

Published in Daily Times, June 5th 2018.