Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote telecom related research that would be beneficial for both the organizations, the telecom industry as well as for the country.
This MoU would also boost mutual cooperation in the relevant fields and would enhance the industry academia linkage.
Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammed Yaseen and Vice Chancellor UET Professor Dr. Muhammed Abbas Choudhary were present while representatives of PTA and UET signed the MoU in a ceremony held at UET today.
This MoU would be valid for (five) 5 years and would be renewed on completion.
Main objectives of this collaboration are to support research activities and to equip future leadership with theoretical and practical training in policy and regulatory issues of telecom sector.
It is expected that the related organizations would benefit from this collaboration as young experts would be conducting research in the relevant fields of telecom with guidance of the faculty and PTA.
On this occasion, Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammed Yaseen said that PTA would provide data on telecom sector and expertise to UET Taxila, reciprocally the University would encourage its students to undertake research in different areas of telecom sector. He said that under the MoU, PTA would help UET in identification of research areas. Similarly, UET would cooperate with PTA on different issues of trade, business and economy related to telecom sector. The VC said that we are looking for possibility to set up a Chair on Telecommunications at UET. We have also plans to start masters and doctorate programmes in telecom regulations. We want to establish an institution for telecom research as well, he added.
This is the third MoU signed between PTA and any university. Similar understanding exists with COMSATS and NUST. PTA has been working continuously towards encouragement of research activities in telecom sector. Being an academia friendly organization it has taken initiatives to establish strong linkages with educational institutions for the promotion of telecom research. Research on regulatory issues, challenges and transfer of new technologies in local sector is likely to help the regulator and the policy makers. To this end PTA has taken significant steps that have received an positive response from all the stakeholders. These initiatives include PTA Gold Medal Scheme, Essay Competition on World Telecom Day and cash prizes for best research project competition and SMS-based Information System for educational institutions.
This is a good initiative.