The OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) hosted the Annual Meeting of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE) in Islamabad, gathering senior leadership from universities across OIC Member and Observer States to review progress and chart the future of academic collaboration in the Muslim world.
Nearly 30 international delegates from Iran, Somalia, Palestine, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal joined representatives from leading Pakistani institutions for the high-level meeting.
Opening the session, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary emphasized the urgent need to strengthen academic linkages to address the limited pool of skilled professionals in OIC countries. He noted that the post-pandemic transformation of global higher education has created new opportunities for skill-based training, hybrid learning, and digital education, making collaboration more critical than ever.
Prof Choudhary highlighted that knowledge sharing, scholar exchanges, technology transfer, and joint programmes are essential for overcoming regional educational challenges. He encouraged member institutions to take maximum benefit from COMSTECH’s flagship initiatives, including the Research Fellowship Programme, Distinguished Scholars Programme, Environment and Ecosystem Restoration Forum, the Centre for Training and Research on AI and Emerging Technologies, and the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal.
The meeting featured two technical sessions exploring character mastery, future university models, and the evolving relationship between society, economy, and industry. International trainers and academic leaders led brainstorming discussions on competency-driven learning, modern teaching tools, industry partnerships, and collaborative training models to better prepare students for emerging global challenges.
A moderated open discussion allowed universities to revisit CCoE objectives, present institutional updates, and deliberate on the 2026 Plan of Action. Delegates reviewed opportunities for enhanced cooperation, including faculty exchanges, student mobility programmes, senior management training, and joint research and innovation projects to strengthen research ecosystems across OIC states.
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Concluding the meeting, Prof Choudhary reaffirmed COMSTECH’s commitment to advancing collaborative ventures and capacity-building across the consortium. The annual gathering served as a key platform for setting future priorities and deepening academic partnerships aimed at fostering scientific excellence and sustainable development throughout the OIC region.