LUMS and Mitsubishi Corporation Discuss Future Collaborations
To mark their long-standing relationship, LUMS and the Mitsubishi Corporation met on March 12, to discuss avenues of collaboration and growth opportunities in energy, health, and big data.
The meeting was attended by the incoming CEO of Mitsubishi and their outgoing CEO. Representing LUMS were Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector; Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor; Dr. Farhat Haq, Provost; Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Vice Provost; Dr. Sabieh Anwar, Dean, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering; Dr. Nauman Ahmad Zaffar, Mitsubishi Chair; Ms. Nuzhat Kamran, Director, Office of Advancement; Dr. Suleman Shahid, Assistant Professor, Computer Science; and Dr. Naveed Arshad, Associate Professor, Computer Science.
Dr. Ahmad appreciated the team at Mitsubishi Corporation and lauded their efforts towards changing the lives of LUMS students through different initiatives. These include providing scholarships, helping those with learning disabilities, as well as facilitating research on national issues. He also spoke about how the different centres at LUMS are playing a major role in bringing people together and integrating the work of scholars, while also interfacing with society.
Ms. Kamran shared that LUMS has established itself as among the top universities in the country. “Accessibility has been one of the top priorities at LUMS. Mitsubishi has been a partner in this endeavour, and has helped support students studying at the University on financial aid. At present, 1 in 3 students at LUMS receives some form of financial assistance, and last year, around PKR 1 billion was disbursed in financial aid. Apart from providing scholarships, Mitsubishi Corporation has also helped fund a semester exchange programme between LUMS and Waseda University.”
In 2010-11, Mitsubishi Corporation helped establish a named endowed chair at LUMS to promote research and development in the fields of renewable energy, material sciences, nanotechnology, biosensors, telecommunications, robotics and power systems. Dr. Nauman Ahmad Zaffar, Mitsubishi Chair, outlined how through this collaboration, researchers and students at LUMS were heavily involved and worked collaboratively. “We also work with renewables and their successful integration into the existing infrastructure in Pakistan. At present we are working to provide electricity to a large chunk of the population who do not have access to grid electricity in a sustainable manner.”
Mitsubishi Corporation has also sponsored a project titled ‘Supporting differently-abled children to become self-reliant members of society’ that aims to support children with intellectual disabilities by using assistive technologies for early diagnosis and rehabilitation. Project Lead, Dr. Shahid demonstrated the positive impact of the Mitsubishi Grant. “This Grant has helped us in using design thinking and technology for those with cognitive and learning disabilities in Pakistan. Our work is focused on inclusion and learning.”
He explained that the Learning Without Borders agenda at LUMS, through which multiple Schools collaborate, is taking this Grant forward and has helped create an autism awareness portal in Pakistan. “This portal has been designed to be accessible in four different languages — Sindhi, Pashto, English and Urdu.”
Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director of the Energy Institute, also apprised the attendees about LUMS’ contribution to national policy on electric vehicles and applications of swappable batteries in two- and three-wheel vehicles.
The meeting ended with Dr. Ahmad thanking the outgoing CEO for his support towards LUMS and welcoming the new management at Mitsubishi Corporation.