University of California, USA and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) have agreed to initiate collective research projects and joint academic programmes in the field of agriculture. It was decided in a meeting of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad with Dr. Mark A. Bell, Director, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California USA , who called on him to discuss and explore possibilities of academic and research collaboration between both the universities.

The visiting delegation exchanged views with PMAS-AAUR academic leadership and applauded its numerous steps to develop the institutional relations with leading institutions and corporate entities. Both parties shared views for joint efforts that are important for potential expansion of future academic collaborations.

Both the Universities agreed to cooperate in education & research in areas of mutual interest and to establish mutual scientific, educational and cultural programmes in order to assert and to consolidate relationships between the two universities and their countries. The cooperative activities to be covered will be included exchange of faculty members and students, joint research activities,  sharing of academic material and other joint initiatives such as workshops, seminars, symposiums, etc.

On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, briefed the guests about mandate, functions, programmes, achievements and future plans of the University. He said that  PMAS-AAUR is rapidly expanding its academic and research avenues, while its research output had significantly increased in the international journals. He said that the University had very active research and academic collaboration agreements with other Universities and is looking forward for active foreign collaboration and funding for its faculty development programme and research projects. He was of the view  that collaboration with California University shall open new directions of academic and research exchange. Students and faculty exchange programmes between the universities shall strengthen educational ties as well as bond of friendship between the two countries' people, he added.