TIKA, Punjab University, Yildiz Technical University Sign AI Cooperation Agreement
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 15th Sep, 2026) Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the University of the Punjab (PU), and Yildiz Technical University (YTU) have signed a tripartite cooperation agreement to promote education, research, and technology development in the field of human-centred artificial intelligence.
The agreement was signed during the visit of a Turkish higher education delegation to Pakistan, led by the President of Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
YTU Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, PU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mahmood Saleem, and TIKA Pakistan Country Coordinator Saliha Tuna signed the agreement.
The protocol provides a framework for the effective and sustainable use of the Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence Laboratory established by TIKA within PU’s Faculty of Engineering. Equipped with advanced computing and server infrastructure, the Laboratory is expected to be officially inaugurated in the coming weeks.
Under the cooperation framework, YTU will:
- Share educational materials, academic resources, and teaching experience relating to human-centred artificial intelligence with PU.
- Support the preparation of PU faculty members who will teach relevant courses.
- Facilitate the development of joint research projects and student and faculty exchange programmes.
Over the next five years, the cooperation aims to:
- Produce more than 10 joint academic publications.
- Develop at least five externally funded collaborative projects.
- Support more than 20 PhD and MPhil theses.
- Train over 100 students, researchers, and faculty members.
- Foster at least five innovation or startup initiatives.
Through its remote-access infrastructure, the Laboratory is expected to enable researchers from PU’s different campuses and departments, as well as partner universities in Türkiye and Pakistan, to participate in joint research and educational activities.
The protocol aims to ensure that the technological infrastructure provided by TIKA contributes to long-term academic partnerships between Türkiye and Pakistan, the development of qualified human resources, and innovative solutions addressing societal needs.
