The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation convened the Annual Meeting of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence at its Secretariat in Islamabad, bringing together vice chancellors, rectors and senior representatives from leading universities across OIC Member and Observer States to discuss deepening academic collaboration.
Nearly 30 international delegates attended the meeting representing universities from Iran, Somalia, Palestine, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, alongside several prominent institutions from Pakistan. The gathering provided a platform to expand partnerships and promote mobility among faculty and students.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of sustained linkages among higher education institutions across the Muslim world. He highlighted that a limited pool of skilled professionals remains a major developmental challenge for many OIC countries and that strengthening tertiary education systems is essential to close that gap.
Prof. Choudhary noted that the global higher education landscape has evolved significantly since the COVID pandemic, with digital learning tools and hybrid education models improving access to short interactive skill based training. He stressed that collaborations, knowledge sharing, exchange of scholars, technology transfer and joint academic programmes are vital for addressing educational challenges across the region.
Two technical sessions examined character mastery, future university models and the evolving nexus between society, economy and industry. Delegates engaged in structured brainstorming led by senior international trainers and academic leaders, emphasising competency driven education, modern pedagogical tools and stronger university industry partnerships to prepare graduates for emerging global challenges.
A moderated open discussion covered key thematic areas of CCoE cooperation, presentations on COMSTECH initiatives and consultations on the Plan of Action for 2026. Universities deliberated on expanding inter university cooperation through faculty exchanges, student mobility schemes, senior management training and joint research and innovation projects to strengthen research ecosystems across OIC Member States.
Member universities were encouraged to actively benefit from COMSTECH flagship programmes including the Research Fellowship Programme, the Distinguished Scholars Programme, the COMSTECH Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration, the Centre for Training and Research on AI and Emerging Technologies and the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal. Details of these initiatives were shared in a comprehensive presentation during the meeting.
The Coordinator General reaffirmed COMSTECH’s commitment to supporting collaborative ventures and capacity building across the CCoE network and extended his best wishes for productive discussions. The Annual Meeting served as a vital forum to review progress, identify future priorities and deepen academic cooperation to promote scientific excellence and sustainable development across the OIC region.
