UET mulling to set up Chair on Telecommunication

University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila is mulling to set up Chair on Telecommunications and institute of telecom research with plans to start masters and doctorate programmes in telecom regulations. This was said by Vice Chancellor UET Professor Dr. Muhammed Abbas Chaudhary on Saturday while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), PTA has continued its efforts to promote research and development activities in the field of telecom and education sector. The focus on telecom research and academics has been emphasized in the educational sector owing to towering telecom industry of the country.

One after another it has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with different leading universities of the country to bride the gap between industry and academics in the country. This is the third MoU signed between PTA and any university. Similar understanding exists with COMSATS and NUST.

The MoU would be valid for (five) 5 years and would be renewed on completion. Its main objectives are to support research activities and to equip future leadership with theoretical and practical training in policy and regulatory issues of telecom sector. It is expected that the related organizations would benefit from this collaboration as young experts would be conducting research in the relevant fields of telecom with guidance of the faculty and PTA.

PTA would provide data on telecom sector and expertise to UET Taxila, reciprocally the University would encourage its students to undertake research in different areas of telecom sector. 

Under the MoU, PTA would help UET in identification of research areas. Similarly, UET would cooperate with PTA on different issues of trade, business and economy related to telecom sector, Chairman Dr Muhammad Yaseen said.

PTA has been working continuously towards encouragement of research activities in telecom sector. Being an academia friendly organization it has taken initiatives to establish strong linkages with educational institutions for the promotion of telecom research. Research on regulatory issues, challenges and transfer of new technologies in local sector is likely to help the regulator and the policy makers.

The initiatives include PTA Gold Medal Scheme, Essay Competition on World Telecom Day and cash prizes for best research project competition and SMS-based Information System for educational institutions.