CAMBRIDGE, April 24, 2025 (WNP): The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of Pakistan and the Centre for South Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Allama Iqbal Visiting Fellowship, for strengthening academic and cultural ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and Professor Shailaja Fennell of the University of Cambridge, during a ceremony held in Cambridge.
Senior academics and officials present at the ceremony included Professor Kamal Munir, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Professor Jude Browne, Head of the Department of Politics, and representatives from the Pakistan High Commission in London.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Faisal emphasized the enduring significance of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, widely regarded as the intellectual father of Pakistan. “Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy played a transformative role in inspiring the movement for the creation of Pakistan,” he noted. “His vision laid the ideological foundation that deeply influenced leaders such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah.”
The high commissioner described the fellowship as “a landmark initiative to promote Pakistan’s rich cultural, literary, and intellectual heritage at one of the world’s leading academic institutions.”
Under the terms of the MoU, the Government of Pakistan will nominate distinguished scholars for the fellowship, one of whom will be selected annually by the Centre for South Asian Studies at Cambridge. The selected Allama Iqbal Visiting Fellow will engage with students and faculty on a range of subjects related to Pakistan, including its history, languages, literature, politics, culture, and society.
In addition to research activities, the visiting fellow will also contribute to teaching areas such as Urdu language, Pakistan Studies, and South Asian cultural heritage, fostering greater academic exchange and dialogue between Cambridge and Pakistani institutions.
Officials from both sides expressed optimism that the initiative would deepen mutual understanding and enhance educational collaboration between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
