Meeting of the Vice-Chancellor, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali with the Pakistani High Commissioner to New Zealand, Her Excellency, Ms. Zehra Akbari, the Pro Vice-Chancellor International, Victoria University of Wellington, Professor Rob Rabel and Adjunct Professor, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Dr. Mansoor Shafi was held on October 13, 2014 at the Pakistan House, Wellington, New Zealand.

The meeting focused on various aspects of further improving the standard and quality of higher education. The meeting also discussed various policies and steps through which the communication gap between the academic staff and students of AWKUM and Victoria University of Wellington could be bridged. Various collaborative activities for the internationalization of higher education were also discussed in the meeting.

On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Ali reiterated that AWKUM is a mere 6 years old university however keeping in view its numerous achievements since its establishment back in 2009, AWKUM would move along swiftly, from shoulder to shoulder, with Victoria University which is one of the best universities not only in New Zealand but in the world. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Ali briefed the meeting about the Garden Campus. He added that the Research Center in Garden Campus will comprise of the latest equipment and facilities where foreign researchers will be welcomed to undertake researches in a cognitive environment.

Prof. Dr. Ali further said that AWKUM has the most vibrant Faculty Development Programme under which 73 scholars are pursuing their PhDs in the high ranked universities of the world and 57 scholars are pursuing their PhDs in the leading universities of the country. He concluded that upon the completion of the PhDs of the overseas and indigenous scholars, AWKUM will lead majority of the universities country wide in terms of holding the most number of PhD faculty.