A three member delegation from the International Cooperation Directorate of Swiss Red Cross (ICDSRC) visited the Islamabad Campus of Preston University in March 2011. The delegation comprised of Director International Cooperation, Mr. Martin Fuhrer, Program Coordinator International Cooperation, Ms. Annette Vondeling and Country Representative ICDSRC, Islamabad, Mr. Isle Peter.  

On arrival, the members of the Swiss delegation were shown around various departments of the university and introduced to the faculty and staff. During the course of formal meeting, members of the delegation were briefed about the nation-wide operations of Preston University and the academic programs being offered by it at the undergraduate and graduate level. Matters of interest and significance to Preston University, such as curriculum development, faculty training programs, organization of workshops and seminars by ICDSRC, in areas pertinent to the interest of the university, were discussed in deliberations held between the two teams. On the occasion, Dr. N. M. Butt, Chairman Preston Institute of Nano Science and Technology (PNSAT), Preston University, gave a brief presentation on the Institute.

Dr. A. W. Baloch, Director, Disaster Research Institute (DRI) and Registrar, Preston University gave a detailed briefing on DRI to the delegation. He also highlighted areas in which ICDSRC could be helpful in further strengthening DRI’s existing set up. On the occasion, he made particular mention of the Diploma and Postgraduate programs DRI is currently offering in Disaster Risk Management at the IslamabadCampus of the University. In the domain of DRI’s international collaboration, he highlighted its collaboration with AIT, Bangkok, BIT Indonesia and National Institute of Disaster Management, India. Engr. Najib Ahmed of Designmen, Islamabad spoke about DRI- Designmen collaboration in research and other areas pertinent to the interest of DRI, Preston University.