18-member Turkish delegation led by CoHE President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar concludes four-day visit; discussions focus on joint research, academic mobility and partnerships in AI, cybersecurity and biotechnology
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (WNP): An 18-member delegation of Turkish higher education leaders, headed by Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education (CoHE), Türkiye, has concluded a comprehensive four-day visit to Pakistan aimed at deepening academic, research and institutional cooperation between the two countries.
The high-level engagement brought together senior academic leadership from Türkiye and Pakistan to develop a shared roadmap for long-term educational partnerships, joint research and scientific innovation.
The visit began with an opening session at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Secretariat in Islamabad, where the Turkish delegation held high-level discussions with HEC senior management and Vice Chancellors of leading universities from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Welcoming the delegation, HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar underscored the significant potential for closer cooperation between Pakistan’s HEC, Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education and universities in both countries.
“There is an immense potential for Higher Education Commission, Pakistan and Council of Higher Education, Türkiye, as well as academia on both sides, to create meaningful collaborations,” Dr. Niaz said.
He identified expanding research partnerships, increasing student and faculty mobility programmes and developing robust inter-university linkages as key priority areas for bilateral cooperation.
Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the people and academic community of Pakistan and said he was confident that the visit would produce concrete and mutually beneficial outcomes.
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to facilitating joint research initiatives, institutional exchanges and academic mobility between the two countries.
“Council of Higher Education (CoHE) is fully ready to support sustainable partnerships between the higher education sectors of Türkiye and Pakistan,” Prof. Dr. Özvar said.
On the second day, HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and CoHE President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar jointly presided over bilateral strategic discussions involving university leaders from both countries.
The deliberations focused on developing concrete joint ventures in critical and emerging fields, particularly Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and biotechnology.
The strategic session was followed by targeted one-on-one meetings between university heads, providing institutions with an opportunity to explore and negotiate direct academic and research partnerships.
The Turkish delegation later visited Air University, where it toured the advanced Network Security Lab and interacted with faculty members. The delegation subsequently visited the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP) and received detailed briefings on national research, innovation initiatives and technological advancements.
On the third day, the delegation visited Bahria University, Islamabad, where it was received by Rector Vice Admiral Abid Hameed. The Rector briefed the delegation on the university’s facilities, internationalisation initiatives and campus life before leading a tour of the Applied AI Technologies Research Centre.
The delegation then proceeded to the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), where it was welcomed by Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif and senior faculty members.
The Turkish academic leaders were briefed on NUST’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and intellectual capital before touring the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP), including the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility, the School of Interdisciplinary Engineering and Sciences and the NUST Chip Design Centre.
Following the university and research-centre visits, the delegation returned to the HEC Secretariat for an interactive reception hosted by the HEC Chairman and senior management.
The reception facilitated interaction between the Turkish delegation and HEC officials and provided an open forum for the visiting academic leaders to share their observations and key takeaways regarding Pakistan’s higher education and research landscape.
The four-day engagement formally concluded with a farewell dinner hosted at the Embassy of Türkiye in Islamabad and attended by the HEC Chairman and senior educational leaders.
The visit highlighted the enduring educational ties between Pakistan and Türkiye and provided a platform for expanding joint research, academic mobility, institutional partnerships and technological cooperation, particularly in emerging fields that are shaping the future of higher education and scientific innovation.
