COMSTECH has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Consortium of Universities, Gaza–Palestine to deepen academic and scientific cooperation and support the rebuilding of Gaza’s higher education sector. The agreement was finalised in Islamabad and commits both parties to joint programmes, faculty exchanges and institutional capacity building aimed at strengthening academic resilience in Gaza.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH, and Prof. Ayman M. F. Sobh, President of Al-Aqsa University, representing the consortium which includes Al-Aqsa University, University of Palestine, Al Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza University, Israa University and Al-Quds Open University. Under the agreement, Gaza universities will be integrated into the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence and registered on the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal to widen collaborative opportunities across member states.
COMSTECH Gaza cooperation will promote joint educational and scientific programmes, organise international conferences and training courses, and facilitate exchange visits of faculty, researchers and technical experts. The initiative also prioritises faculty development through sabbatical visits and short-term training in priority fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, Natural Sciences and Information Technology.
Speaking at the signing, Prof. Dr. Choudhary said, “This important step will be greatly helpful in connecting universities from Gaza–Palestine with more than eighty leading higher education and research institutions across OIC member states”, and reaffirmed COMSTECH’s commitment to assist Gaza’s universities in their rebuilding and rehabilitation through close academic and research collaborations.
The first-ever delegation of vice chancellors and senior representatives from Gaza–Palestine is on a week-long visit to Pakistan at the invitation of OIC-COMSTECH. The delegation spent a busy day at the COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad, where they were briefed on COMSTECH-led initiatives, and will meet leadership from member universities in Islamabad, Faisalabad and Lahore to explore academic partnerships that can support Gaza’s recovery.
The visiting delegation expressed deep appreciation to COMSTECH and Pakistani universities for their ongoing support and solidarity with Gaza’s academic community. The new partnership places COMSTECH Gaza efforts at the centre of regional collaboration aimed at restoring and modernising higher education infrastructure and research capacity in Gaza.
