By Hifsa Raja ISLAMABAD, May 30 (INP-WealthPK): China Window — a Pak-China friendship centre — and Harbin Engineering University of China have signed an MoU for cooperation in various disciplines and student exchange programmes. Zhang Qingbin, dean of the College of International Cooperative Education of the university, and Naz Parveen, Director of China Window, signed the agreement. Talking to WealthPK, Assistant Professor with the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Dr. Hafsa Hina said, ‘’If we collaborate with China in exchange for human capital, then people who go there to learn any technology will acquire expertise in their advanced studies and technology, thereby enhancing the HDI (human development index) of both nations. Transfer of technology can also increase the output of tech industries. The primary objective of such an exchange programme is skill development.’’ Praising the intellectual connection between China and Pakistan, Dr Hafsa said, ‘’Both sides should collaborate on university-industry connections. The main reason for student’s unemployment is that there is no link between the academia and industry. The academic community is unaware of industry requirements. If we are aware of the industry's needs, academics will be able to determine which academic courses to incorporate and which technologies to collaborate on.’’ Under the terms of agreement, the two institutions will exchange students, instructors, researchers, and administrative personnel and encourage co-curricular activities. Zhang Qingbin referred to the agreement as a watershed moment and said that not only affordable education options will be made available, but also university scholarships. He said both sides would play a beneficial role in enhancing the excellent relationship between the two countries. Transfers from more developed to comparatively less developed countries have contributed to technological advancement. China has become a key source of both technological progress and technological transfer. Pakistan and China agree that the two countries must promote student exchange programs along with industry-related skills and joint research projects to learn from each other’s experiences. Higher Education Commission (HEC) and China Association of Higher Education (CAHE) play a crucial role in fostering higher education, exchange programmes and a research culture in Pakistan. HEC was established at a time when there were only 50 universities in Pakistan. Today there are now 188 top-quality institutions in Pakistan. In recent years, Pakistan published an average of 7,434 publications per year, for a total of 148,678 publications. COMSATS University Islamabad and Quaid-e-Azam University were identified as the most productive institutions, while medicine and electrical and electronic engineering were identified as the most popular research fields. China ranked first, followed by the United States, according to a research. Students and faculty exchange programmes by HEC and CAHE result in people-to-people exchange. It would deepen ties of friendship between Pakistan and China, as well as contribute to the development of significant research and innovations. Now HEC has made it compulsory for each university to open Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICS).