23.05.2014
In a short span of two years of its existence, the KP Judicial Academy scored another great achievement today by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Universities: the Abdul Wali Khan University (Mardan), the University of Malakand (Chakdara) and the University of Hazara (Mansehra). Dr Khurshid Iqbal, Dean of Faculty signed the MoU along with Dr Zahoor-ul-Haq, Registrar, the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mr. Sher Bhadur Khan, Registrar, University of Malakand and Mr. Bakhtyar Muhmand, Registrar, Hazara University. Amidst applause of about two dozens people--mostly staff members of all the institutions, Dr Iqbal exchanged the documents with the Registrars, having a ceremonious handshake with each one of them, with the Director General of the Academy and Vice-Chancellors of the Universities standing in the background.
Earlier, Mr. Hayat Ali Shah, DG Academy welcomed the distinguished guests, Mr. Muhammad Arshad Khan, Registrar, Peshawar High Court, Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali, the Vice-Chancellor, the Abdul Wali Khan University, Prof. Dr. Johar Ali, the Vice-Chancellor, the University of Malakand and Prof. Dr Sohail Shahzad, the Vice-Chancellor of Hazara University. The guests watched a video reflecting the journey of judicial education in the KP and establishment of the Academy. They also watched the Academy’s anthem. They can’t help appreciate the Academy’s efforts, particularly its successes in the field of research, awareness and informal dispute resolution system, during its short life. They also expressed the view that the Academy has gained enviable popularity.
Speaking on the occasion, the Heads of all the institutions displayed a high spirit, underlining the need and importance of collaboration amongst their respective institutions and the contribution of such efforts to meet the challenges faced by legal and judicial education in the KP. Prof. Dr Ishan Ali proposed what he called a consortium of all the four institutions which may open new vistas of cooperation, leading to the development of a sound and lasting academic culture across the province. Dr Shahzad emphasized the importance of clinical legal education. Dr. Johar expressed the hope that the MoU will help the Universities’ law students to have frequent, but useful visits to law courts, as part of their full time studies, creating an enabling environment for preparing the students in advance to develop acquaintance with courts and members of the bar. He also suggested that judges may be encouraged to visit for lectures at the law schools. This, he added, would help bring a pure practitioner’s perspective to the law students, affording them an opportunity to know about the law in action while learning the law in the books. Mr. Muhammad Arshad Khan, Registrar, Peshawar High Court, praising the MoU as a positive initiative, stated that the High Court will consider the suggestions favourably.
Key areas of the MoUs include:
- To facilitate the exchange of academic members, researchers and experts for conducting research, teaching or exchange of ideas.
- To provide opportunities for faculty members and researchers to participate in conferences, symposiums and workshop of both institutions.
- To provide necessary facilities in exchange of faculty members and researchers to spend their sabbatical leaves in each of the two institutes.
- To collaborate in holding joint scientific, academic, action, historical and interdisciplinary research and conduct joint research projects.
- To exchange information, books, academic publications, scientific and research documents, training, seminars, workshops and conferences reports, students thesis, microfilms and computer software in educational, research and technological areas.
- To start joint research and academic activities, including publication of books, research journal and reports, for mutual benefits
- To facilitate visits of academic members, researchers, and students of both institutions.
- To support the establishment of the chair of legal and judicial research and teaching in both institutes.
- To mutually help each other in the area of planning and development.
- To facilitate and cooperate with each other in the area of law students internship programmes.
- Any other area of cooperation that may be benefit to both the institutions and the public at large.