Pakistani, Chinese universities ink agreement to collaborate in academic and research endeavors

Hyderabad: Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam and Northwest A&F University of China have inked an online agreement aimed at fostering collaboration in academic and research endeavors.

The agreement outlines joint research initiatives between experts from both universities, specifically focusing on new varieties of wheat and vegetables. As part of this collaboration, Northwest A&F University will offer scholarships to Masters and PhD students from Sindh Agriculture University. The agreement was signed online, with top officials from both institutions participating and exchanging the necessary documents.

Representatives from Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam included Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri, Dean Faculty of Crop Production Prof. Dr. Inayatullah Rajpar, Director Advanced Studies Dr. Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, Director of Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) Prof. Dr. Tanveer Fatima, and Chairman Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr. Shah Nawaz Marri. On behalf of Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Vice President Prof. Jun Luo, Deputy Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department Mr. Yufeng Zou, Vice Dean of College of International Education Ms. Yuhuan Wang, and Vice Dean of College of Life Sciences Mr. Linqiang Liu participated in the online ceremonies.

The collaborative research will span various fields, including horticulture, soil science, plant breeding and genetics, agricultural economics, and animal stem cells.

The agreement entails the selection of students from Sindh Agriculture University in fields like agronomy, horticulture, soil sciences, and animal sciences for fully funded Masters and PhD programs at Northwest A&F University, along with the provision of scholarships.

Research initiatives will involve the use of high-production technology to improve wheat commodities, coupled with business analysis in the fields of farmers cultivating vegetables such as peppers, cabbage, broccoli, radish, and onion.

A delegation from Northwest A&F University will visit cell laboratories and tissue culture labs to assess strengths and weaknesses, implementing bio-health technology for plants.

Additional components of the agreement include establishing friendly relationships between local governments, providing training courses on basic technologies for producing bio-healthy agricultural products, implementing doctoral scholarships and post-doctoral visiting scholar programs, and establishing the Sino-Pak Research Center for Agrobiological Resources and Joint Laboratory of Animal and Plant Stem Cell Project.