KARACHI, Jan 23: Karachi University’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) to promote and develop academic and research cooperation in various fields of sciences between the institutions.

The MoU was signed by the director of the ICCBS, Prof (Dr) M. Iqbal Choudhary, and the IUB vice chancellor, Prof (Dr) Muhammad Mukhtar, on behalf of their respective institutions.

A spokesperson for the ICCBS said that the MoU signed in Bahawalpur recently was aimed at setting up of a joint collaborative research programme at the ICCBS and the IUB in the field of medicinal chemistry and biotechnology.

Besides, both the institutions could undertake joint research projects in the fields of basic chemical and biochemical sciences to address scientific, health and industrial problems of local, regional, national and international significance, the spokesperson added.

Both the institutions under the accord had also agreed to enhance relations between the two institutions and develop academic exchange in the areas of education and research, he said.

It had also been decided that team members would be identified to work on joint research projects while there would be annual bi-institutional meeting in the form of workshop/ seminar and conference that would be organised jointly by both the institutions, he added.

Highlighting the salient features of the MoU, he said that the collaborative activities included faculty and research staff exchanges, foreign study programmes and collaborative research programmes, including the exchange of voucher samples, and natural product extracts; joint seminars, workshops, and service programmes.

Each of the two institutions would be responsible for seeking funds to support their involvement in the cooperative activities under the agreement, and all such activities would depend upon the budgetary appropriations of both the parties, he added.

He said that the agreement would be for a period of five years from the date of its implementation and it could be extended with mutual consent in writing by both institutions, but it could be terminated by either party giving 30 days written notice to the other party.

BDS exams

The controller of examinations of Karachi University announced on Monday that BDS (third professional) annual examinations-2012 would begin on Jan 31 at the KU Centre of Excellence in Women’s Studies.

Timings of the papers: general medicine, general surgery, oral pathology and oral medicine scheduled for Jan 31, Feb 2, Feb 7 and Feb 9, respectively, would be held from 2pm to 5pm, the official added.