The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan has made it clear: the door remains wide open for its longtime academic ally, Cebu Technological University (CTU), to finally concretize the agreement laid out years ago, according to CTU Director Dr. Rhodora Magan in today’s meeting with NUST global affairs officials.
Pakistan’s #2 university for 2026 according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings and ranked #371 globally, NUST is ready to transform a dormant link into a fully operational partnership focused on robotics, advanced technology, and research-led development.
The CTU–NUST collaboration was first forged in 2022, with then-NUST Director Dr. Awaais Kamboh and Dr. Magan engaging in dialogue that sparked plans for student/faculty mobility, joint research in high-demand STEM fields, among others. But the initiative was delayed, never fully transitioning from planning to execution due to shifting administrative priorities on both sides.
Today, that long-pending alliance may finally see the light of day. This timing could not be more strategic. NUST continues to expand its research leadership in science and engineering and possesses the academic infrastructure, research capacity, and global outlook needed to host meaningful collaboration. In turn, CTU brings applied research expertise and hands-on technological programs that complement NUST’s research-intensive environment.
While no formal visit date has been announced yet, NUST officials have confirmed they are ready to host CTU faculty and students, either for short-term lectureships or longer-term mobilities from here onwards.
The fact that NUST is keeping this agreement alive—despite the lack of activity over the past three years—signals how seriously the institution values its partnership with CTU. It also reflects a broader trend of Pakistani universities pushing for stronger integration into the Indo-Pacific academic sphere, with particular focus on Southeast Asia.
For CTU, the opportunity to re-engage with one of South Asia’s best universities offers significant value. Beyond expanding its international footprint, a live partnership with NUST gives CTU access to one of the region’s most ambitious and strategically located research environments—bridging Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia.
The partnership is locked in for an initial period of five years and includes an automatic renewal clause, underscoring the long-term commitment both institutions have made. /Internationalization and ASEAN Integration
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