Ms. Wendy Gilmour, Canadian High Commissioner, recently visited LUMS accompanied by Ms. Margaux Macdonald, Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada. This brings forward the focus of the University on international exposure and collaboration.
The guests were welcomed by Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, LUMS, Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector, LUMS and senior leadership of the University. They were taken around the campus where the National Incubation Centre created special interest among the guests, who were quite impressed by the start-ups that were looking to solve global issues like climate change.
Dr. Ahmad apprised the High Commissioner about the recent University wide initiatives. These included new directions as well as the focus on the interaction of intellectual and financial capital to produce a culture of innovation through research intensity, cutting-edge curricula and high impact practices.
Ms. Gilmour suggested the idea to engage communities by bringing people together and strengthening the ties among the government, business and academic communities more broadly. She further talked about gender equality as a high priority for Canada. She also highlighted Canada’s Women Voice Leadership Initiative, which intends to respond to the needs of local women’s organisations in developing countries that are working to advance the rights of women and girls and to promote gender equality.
Ms. Gilmour recommended institution-to-institution strategic partnership aimed at internationalisation of the institutions, capacity building and effective and sustainable impact. In response, Dr. Ahmad proposed that Canada should join hands with LUMS for the Teaching and Learning Centre initiative as well as further the agenda of faculty development and capacity building. Furthermore, mutually beneficial partnerships were also discussed that would increase awareness about the Canadian higher education system in Pakistan and vice versa hence building sustainable, long-term partnerships between the collaborating institutions.
Commenting about her visit, Ms. Gilmour said, “It was a great visit, and I was particularly struck by the Incubation Centre. There are some truly fascinating ideas in a wonderfully creative space, and both Margaux and I came away with a real sense of optimism for what Pakistan has to offer.
On our own front, I will do some thinking with Margaux and her team about opportunities for Canadian collaboration with LUMS, and explore some of the ideas raised by the Vice Chancellor.”
