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Jalil Jilani
visits University of Southern Queensland
(Media Release
to Sada-e-Watan by Jane Urquhart)
The University of Southern
Queensland was delighted to host a visit by the High Commissioner for Pakistan
in Australia, His Excellency Jalil Abbas Jilani and Mrs Shaista Jilani on
Wednesday 31 October 2007.Organised as part of his first visit to Queensland,
His Excellency met with USQ Vice Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove, Deputy
Vice Chancellor Professor Graham Baker and Acting Dean of Engineering, Associate
Professor Ron Ayres.
'The focus of this visit is to meet with the Vice Chancellor, students from
Pakistan and see the facilities of the University,' His Excellency said.
Education was an area of interest for the High Commissioner’s visit to
Queensland, spending time at two other universities before travelling to
USQ.'Education is one of the priority areas for Pakistan,' he said.
'During the visit of President Pervaiz Musharra,Prime Minister of Australia John
Howard has offered 500 scholarships for students to study at Australian
universities.'
His Excellency was particularly interested in USQ’s Engineering and Surveying
faculty, spending time there during his visit. 'A lot of engineering development
has taken place in Pakistan recently and there are areas of industrialisation,'
His Excellency said.
'We require more graduates as far as engineering is concerned.'
Vice Chancellor Bill Lovegrove said the High Commissioner’s visit was important
to strengthen the University’s links with Pakistan. 'USQ is very much an
international university, both in terms of attracting students and teaching
offshore,' he said.
'Pakistan is a large country looking to expand their education links and looking
to form partnerships with international universities.' Professor Lovegrove was
pleased His Excellency chose USQ as one of the three universities to visit. 'It
says a lot about our reputation beyond the region,' he said.
Two USQ students from Pakistan, Tariq Khatri and Barosh Khan, met with the High
Commissioner Jalil Jilani and discussed their experiences.
His Excellency Syed Jalil Abbas Jilani also toured the Distance Education Centre
as part of his visit. Mrs Jilani was provided with a tour of the Japanese Garden
and listened to a presentation on cultures by Rhonda Hagan in the Learning and
Teaching Support Unit.
