Strengthening Global Partnerships for Student Mobility and Sustainable Development
Reaffirming its commitment to internationalisation and academic excellence, Iqra University marked its renewed presence on the global stage at the 1st Annual Meeting on Global Academic Collaboration for Student Mobility, hosted by the Tashkent State University of Economics (TSUE) in partnership with Kyungdong University Global (Republic of Korea).
Iqra University was among the 60 prestigious universities from the United States, Finland, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Peru, Tanzania, Uganda, Canada, Turkmenistan, Ecuador, the Russian Federation, Afghanistan, Mexico, Japan, South Sudan, Mongolia, Belarus, and China that participated in this high-level summit, aimed at advancing student mobility and global academic collaboration.
Iqra University’s Re-Emergence on the Global Stage
Representing Pakistan, Professor Dr Nassar Ikram, Vice Chancellor of Iqra University, delivered a powerful Keynote Address titled “Networking the World for Global Student Mobility.”
Dr Ikram emphasised that the future of education depends on equitable and sustainable mobility, where institutions collaborate to empower learners beyond borders.
He noted that while Europe has traditionally led global student mobility through the Bologna Process, the Asia-Pacific region now accounts for nearly 40% of the world’s mobile students, reflecting the shift toward a more interconnected educational landscape.
“Mobility is no longer a one-way ticket from South to North,” said Dr Ikram. “It has become a circle of exchange across regions that now learn with each other.”
He further highlighted that Iqra University has re-emerged on the international stage after a decade-long pause, reigniting its global partnerships and expanding opportunities for student exchange, joint research, and transnational education.
Today, as per Dr Ikram, Iqra University maintains active collaborations with Turkiye, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the UK, the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Russia, with several new agreements under negotiation.
As a member of the Executive Board of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), an organisation with UNESCO consultative status, Iqra University continues to represent Pakistan in advancing the global higher education agenda.
“Our goal is not just to send our students abroad, it is to welcome the world in,” the vice-chancellor remarked. “Through Iqra University’s International Programs, we are opening our classrooms and research labs in Karachi to global learners,” he added.
A Global Platform for Educational Collaboration
The two-day event convened delegates from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Centre for Development Strategy, rectors from leading Uzbek universities, and international education leaders to explore new frontiers in student and faculty exchange, research collaboration, and cross-border learning initiatives.
The summit aligns with the “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy, the New Uzbekistan Development Agenda, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those centred on quality education, innovation, and partnerships for sustainable development.
Uzbekistan’s Vision for Education and Innovation
At the opening ceremony, Mr Kongratbay Sharipov, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, emphasised the nation’s educational transformation as part of its “Third Renaissance.”
“Our purpose in gathering here today,” stated Minister Sharipov, “is to elevate global cooperation in education to an institutional level and provide every student with an opportunity to demonstrate themselves within an international academic environment.”
He underscored the summit’s role in broadening access to international opportunities, strengthening educational integration, and nurturing a culture of innovation.
Insights from the Hosts
Professor Dr Teshabayev To’lqin Zakirovic, Rector of Tashkent State University of Economics, described the summit as a milestone in international educational cooperation, highlighting student mobility as a key driver of 21st-century learning and national progress.
“Expanding global academic cooperation establishes an open and stable platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas, a vital factor in sustainable development and human capacity enhancement,” said Rector Teshabayev.
Agreements were signed to establish scientific and educational centres, joint academic programs, and faculty and student exchange initiatives. University leaders also engaged in B2B meetings to design collaborative research and mobility projects for the coming year.
In his address, Professor Dr. John Kyu Lee, President of Kyungdong University Global, commended Uzbekistan’s rapid emergence as an international education hub and reaffirmed KDU Global’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in education, research, digital technologies, and sustainable development.
“Uzbekistan is rapidly becoming a hub of international education,” he shared. “Together with TSUE and our global partners, we will implement initiatives that empower students and transform higher education worldwide.”
A Shared Commitment to Partnership and Progress
Iqra University extends its deepest appreciation to:
Professor Dr John Kyu Lee, President of Kyungdong University Global, for his visionary leadership; and Professor Dr Teshabayev To’lqin Zakirovic, Rector of Tashkent State University of Economics, for hosting this ground-breaking event with such excellence and hospitality.
Their leadership embodies the spirit of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, underscoring that global progress in education can only be achieved through collaboration, inclusivity, and shared purpose.
Continuing a Legacy of Global Vision
Under the founding vision of Mr Hunaid Lakhani (Late) and the transformative leadership of Professor Dr Nassar Ikram, Iqra University continues to advance its internationalisation agenda, reinforcing Pakistan’s footprint in global higher education.
Ranked among the Top 800–1,000 universities globally by Times Higher Education (THE) and within the Top 10 universities in Pakistan, Iqra University remains one of the country’s most research-intensive and sustainability-driven institutions, recognised by QS Sustainability and UI Green Metric rankings.
Explore Iqra University’s Global Network
The 1st Annual Meeting on Global Academic Collaboration for Student Mobility in Tashkent marked not only a celebration of partnership but also a shared vision for a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable global education system.
Iqra University invites students, faculty, and international partners to explore its growing network of collaborations and exchange programs through the IQRA International Office:
https://linktr.ee/IQRA.International.Office
