Under the umbrella of Malakand Division Inter-Universities Consortium; First Meeting of the Working Groups of the Member Universities (University of Malakand, University of Swat,  University of Buner, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, University of Shangla, University of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Swat, University of Agriculture, Swat, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Swat, University of Chitral, Saidu Medical College, Saidu Sharif, Swat) was successfully held on Monday, 16-Feb-2026 at 11:00 am in the Committee Room, University of Malakand. 

The meeting was chaired by Chairperson of the consortium (Prof. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Vice Chancellor, University of Malakand) and attended by the Director Academics, Director QEC and Director ORIC of the respective Universities. 

The meeting was formally started with recitation of Holy Quran by Dr Muhammad Usman, Director ORIC, UoM. The Chairperson of Consortium, Prof Dr Rashid Ahmad & Prof Dr Muhammad Sadiq, Secretary of Consortium  welcomed the participants and highlighted the role of Malakand Division Inter-Universities  Consortium and its impacts on higher education for regional development and strategic collaboration. 

The working groups were facilitated to discuss and materialize the functionality of the groups.  Group I – Members; Director Academics of the member Universities and Function; Students & Faculty Exchange, Joint Degree Programs, Credit Transfer Systems. Group II –  Members; Director ORIC of the member Universities and Function; Joint Workshops / Research Projects to address regional and national challenges, Innovation & Commercialization, Intellectual Property Rights Policy & Patent Filing, Strengthening linkages with Government, Industry and International Partners, entrepreneurship program and social development initiatives. Group III –  Members; Director QEC of the member Universities, Function; Uplifting quality of academic activities, Sharing experiences and Best Practices, Unified representation in policy dialogues. 

In the closing session; the Chairperson appreciated the participants for sparing their valuable time and travel all around the division. The forum also appreciated the efforts of the Chairperson (Prof. Dr. Rashid Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Malakand) for arranging the meeting and facilitating them to materialize the working groups to achieve the aims and objectives of the consortium in true spirit.

The Honorable Vice Chancellor, UoM Prof Dr Rashid Ahmad pledged to work together for the uplift of academic & research activities and to make a positive impact in socio-economic development of Malakand Division in particular & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general.