Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) organized a two-day training workshop titled “Strengthening the University Innovation Ecosystem” to enhance faculty capacity in innovation, policy engagement, and research commercialization. The workshop was arranged by the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen industry–academia linkages and increase the national impact of academic research.
Prof Dr Tanvir Shahzad, Director ORIC, underscored the significance of the workshop modules, particularly policy briefs and consultancy agreements, describing them as critical tools for translating academic knowledge into practical solutions for industry and public policy.
Addressing the participants, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam emphasized the need for hands-on training initiatives and urged faculty members to move beyond conventional teaching and research publications. He encouraged them to focus on innovation, commercialization, and applied research through policy briefs and consultancy, stressing that universities must play an active role in addressing national challenges.
The Vice Chancellor further called on faculty to develop expertise-driven policies and actively engage with industry, government, and non-government organizations. Such engagement, he said, would not only enhance professional growth but also contribute to Pakistan’s socio-economic development at national and international levels.
The workshop aimed to strengthen GCUF’s innovation ecosystem by building faculty skills in drafting effective policy briefs, understanding consultancy agreements, and commercializing research outcomes. It also sought to promote sustainable collaboration between academia and industry to maximize research impact.
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Dr Hmamad Majeed, Associate Professor of Chemistry at UMT Sialkot Campus, delivered an in-depth session on policy briefs, highlighting their key components and development process. Other resource persons included Dr Muhammad Junaid, Livestock Promotion Consultant; Dr M. Ishaq, IP Focal Person and Additional Director ORIC, UAAR; Dr Khurrum Zia, Additional Director ORIC, UAF; Mr Ghulam Mujtaba, Deputy Director IPO; Dr M Sarfraz, CEO Terraspark Limited, who shared insights on intellectual property, consultancy, and commercialization pathways.
