PhD programme: UK university joins hands with UHS

The University of Glasgow, UK, and the University of Health Sciences (UHS) will enter into a partnership to start a "sandwich" PhD programme for Pakistani researchers in molecular biology, clinical neurosciences, medical genetics, nursing and public health.
This was decided in a meeting between UHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Malik Hussain Mubbashar and the international lead of School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Professor Maryann Lumsden, here at UHS on Friday.
In "sandwich" doctorate, the students will initiate their PhD at UHS and in the second phase, varying from a few months to one or more years, they will carry out their research at Glasgow. The degrees will be awarded by both UHS and University of Glasgow.Professor Maryann said that Glasgow University provided the optimum environments for leading-edge, internationally-competitive research, and facilitated the rapid translation of laboratory-based research to the clinic and the wider population. "Since 2000, our staff has supervised 1,286 new postgraduate research students, providing them with the highest quality learning environment. Our students are involved in a wide range of research subject areas including human nutrition, paediatric endocrinology, cancer biomarkers as well as research in medical education and e-learning", she added.
UHS VC told that the University had entered into strategic partnerships with reputed universities of the world to develop innovative and distinctive basic sciences, translational and clinical research programmes based on interdisciplinary and a multi-professional approach.
"The interface with international organisations is critical to our research strategy and comprises a key element for translating basic science discoveries into clinical practice with clear societal benefits", Professor Mubbashar maintained.
Professor Junaid Sarfraz Khan of UHS medical education department said that the university would soon establish an Institute of Research Excellence in collaboration with University of Liverpool, UK, which would train 10 PhD students of UHS every year. "The British university has not only waived of the bench fee for these students, but also frozen the tuition fee for next five years", informed Professor Junaid adding that "selection of PhD students would be made on merit only".