“Pakistani and German Universities – Joining Forces for a Better Future”
From October 29 to October 31 German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) was hosting an Alumni Seminar “Pakistani and German Universities – Joining Forces for a Better Future” in Islamabad Club.
Interesting workshops and inspiring discussions
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Ambassador Dr. Koch addressing the participants of the Alumni seminar 2010 at the Islamabad Club on 29 October 2010
(© Embassy)
More than 100 Pakistani alumni of German universities and ten German distinguished scientists were gathering at a three days’ alumni seminar. The seminar was hosted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in the premises of the Islamabad Club from October 29 to October 31, 2010. In several workshops and plenary discussions focusing on various disciplines like biosciences, water resources, anthropology or conflict studies, the participants were discussing their latest research findings and explore possibilities of future cooperation and networking.
The programme included – amongst many other topics - a multi-perspective view on the management of Pakistan’s water resources, new solutions for the improvement of crop production, reports on cooperative projects in archaeology and anthropology and a plenary discussion on the topic “Universities in transition – the German Humboldt system as a model for Pakistani higher education?”
Germany - a favorite destination
Germany has always been one of the favorite destinations of young Pakistani scholars an scientists. The most famous of them was the great poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, who obtained his PhD from the University of Munich in 1907.
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Dr. Blumbach, Prof. Dr. Naqvi and Prof. Dr. Wakeel during the panel discussion
(© Embassy)
Generations of Pakistani students and PhD candidates since then have obtained a degree from a German university or joined German research teams for a certain period of time. Some 900 of them were funded by the DAAD, HEC or the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH). At present, a total of around 1,400 Pakistani graduates pursue graduate studies and research projects at German universities, many of them on their own expenses.
By the same token, Pakistan has been the destination for many German scientists and scholars, particularly in the fields of Anthropology, Geography and Oriental Studies.
