COMSTECH, the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has entered into a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Consortium of Universities, Gaza-Palestine. This consortium consists of seven universities from Gaza, aiming to strengthen long-term collaboration in higher education, scientific research, and the reconstruction of Gaza”s academic sector.
The MoU was officially signed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, and Prof. Ayman M. F. Sobh, President of Al-Aqsa University, who represented the consortium which includes Al-Aqsa University, University of Palestine, Al Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza University, Israa University, and Al-Quds Open University.
As part of this agreement, COMSTECH and the Gaza Universities Consortium will collaborate to promote joint educational and scientific initiatives. They plan to organize international conferences, training courses, and facilitate the exchange of faculty, researchers, and technical experts. Furthermore, this initiative aims to integrate Gaza universities into the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE) and register them within the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal, thus broadening their access to collaborative opportunities within the Muslim world.
COMSTECH also intends to support the universities in Gaza by facilitating faculty development programs, sabbatical visits, and short-term training in cutting-edge disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Information Technology. This MoU emphasizes the shared commitment to enhancing institutional capacity and academic resilience in Gaza through cooperative research and scientific exchanges.
On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary commented, “This important step will be greatly helpful in connecting universities from Gaza-Palestine with more than eighty leading higher education and research institutions across OIC member states. COMSTECH will continue to assist the universities of Gaza in their rebuilding and rehabilitation through close academic and research collaborations.” He highlighted that this partnership aligns with COMSTECH”s broader mission of empowering OIC member states through scientific cooperation and utilizing education as a vehicle for sustainable recovery and development.
Earlier, the delegation from Gaza-Palestine engaged in a busy schedule at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad. They participated in a crucial meeting led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, where they were briefed on various COMSTECH-led initiatives designed to enhance scientific cooperation among OIC member states. The members of the delegation expressed a keen interest in these initiatives and commended COMSTECH for its ongoing efforts in building capacity and providing institutional support in Gaza.
The first delegation, consisting of Vice Chancellors and senior representatives from Gaza-Palestine universities, is currently on a week-long visit to Pakistan at the invitation of OIC-COMSTECH. During their visit, they are connecting with the leadership of prominent Pakistani universities in Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Lahore, which are part of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence. The objective is to explore potential avenues for academic collaboration, scientific exchange, and institutional partnership to aid in the rebuilding and enhancement of higher education institutions in Gaza.
Delegation members expressed their profound gratitude to COMSTECH and the Pakistani universities for their sustained support in advancing educational and scientific endeavors and for standing in solidarity with the academic community of Gaza-Palestine at this pivotal time.
