ECOSF is collaborating with the Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World (AETDEW) for promotion of engineering education with a goal to impart quality professional training on infrastructure development, operations and maintenance in the ECO region.
Realizing the need for massive technical capacity and infrastructure development for the participating countries in the One Belt One Road (OBOR), AETDEW and Sugon Ruiyi Technology Company of China supported by the Ministry of Education of China, in collaboration with ECOSF launched the “Double Hundred Universities Cooperation Program (DHUCP)" under the Belt and Road initiative of People’s Republic of China in 2018. AETDEW also signed MoU with Sugon for implementation of DHUCP project.
The DHUCP is an ambitious program with an objective to establish training hubs to provide human resources development and training services that are in demand in 60 odd countries along the Belt and Road (B&R countries). DHUCP is aimed at selecting 100 colleges or universities throughout B&R Countries and connecting them with counterpart 100 universities in China for establishing the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application Innovation Centers to provide scientific research support with particular focus on key emerging technologies such as ICTs, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and key national industry applications.
In response to this program, ECOSF sought the nominations from the Member States. As a result, the Foundation has been successful in receiving the nominations of 11 universities from ECO Member Countries. ECOSF is also pursuing the Member States to nominate more universities to benefit from this emerging regional platform.
ECOSF hosted the 1st Brainstorming and Consultation Session on “Digital B&R Double Hundred University Cooperation Program (DHUCP)” and hosted the Chinese Delegation in Pakistan led by Prof. Shi Zhumei who is the Executive Member, Chinese Association for International Exchange along with Mr. Liu Bo, Director Quality of Sugon Ruiyi Education Cooperation Centre, Shenzen (SRECC) from February 27- March 1, 2019. During this first exploratory visit to Pakistan, Chinese delegates along with President ECOSF Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro held consultative meetings with number of high officials and the leadership of the Member Universities of DHUCP as well as some higher authorities from Pakistan.
This program will be strategic in developing effective cooperation amongst the Member Universities of Pakistan with the leading Chinese Universities that would serve as an effective platform to promote emerging technologies for making meaningful impact and constructive development not only for Pakistan but for the entire ECO region.
Through this program, ECOSF envisions the establishment of Capacity Building Centre in Pakistan as it being a gateway, especially in the wake of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); could provide leadership for the developing capacity building programme in ECO countries and other B&R countries.