The collaboration between CUI and Huawei not only offers students a brighter future, but injects new vitality into Pakistan's ICT development.
By Muhammad Rashid Mukhtar, Assistant Professor, COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan
Established in 1998, the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) became a Federally Chartered University in April 2018. CUI boasts seven campuses with a student body of 35,000, consisting of both domestic and international students. It ranks 711–720 in the overall QS World University Rankings, between 200–250 in Engineering, and 250–300 in Computer Science.
CUI & Huawei collaboration: The Huawei ICT Academy
Pakistan is a unique country, with 60% of its population aged under 30, representing over 100 million young individuals. This demographic composition makes Pakistan a promising market for ICT talent. However, despite these opportunities, the country faces many challenges. Around 10% of the youth are unemployed, and those who are employed often earn insufficient wages due to economic instability and inflation. Despite this, Pakistan's youthful population could prove to be a significant asset if given the right training and job opportunities.
This is where CUI plays a crucial role through its collaboration with Huawei. CUI and Huawei formed a strategic partnership and set up the Huawei ICT Academy in 2020. Their collaboration connects CUI's students with Huawei's cutting-edge technologies, helping them better prepare for a rapidly-evolving tech landscape. Beyond coursework, the partnership encompasses participation in Huawei ICT Competitions, job fairs, instructor training sessions, and certification programs, broadening the scope of professional development available to CUI students and teachers alike.
Collaboration through the Huawei ICT Academy has also enabled CUI to play a bigger role in cultivating Pakistan's digital talent. Huawei not only provides ICT training, certification, and competitions, but offers a pathway to meaningful job opportunities. This has enabled CUI to enhance the nurturing of talent and improve the overall quality of its graduates through various programs and initiatives.
Education transformation: Bridging the gap between theory and practice
With rapid advancements in technology and increasing demand for industry-ready graduates, there was a pressing need for CUI to shift its educational focus from purely theoretical knowledge to practical skills and real-world applications. This change began when CUI first partnered with Huawei. Ever since, Huawei's involvement has been instrumental in helping CUI bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical implementation, thereby enhancing the employability and skills of CUI graduates.
Course offering and certifications to students
Through the Huawei ICT Academy, CUI offers students a range of online courses designed to enhance their career prospects. Courses such as Information Security, Cloud Computing, Routing and Switching, and Big Data are all integral to this offering. These courses cover theoretical knowledge, hands-on experiments, and practical training. The practical methods involved can help students truly understand the meaning of theoretical concepts and better prepare for their future careers.
CUI also introduced Huawei's certification programs, allowing students to become certified through a range of online courses offered by Huawei. Over the past two years, more than 425 students have participated in these courses, with over 100 receiving their certifications. These certifications serve as valuable proof of students' mastery of the respective knowledge and skills. Additionally, CUI has distinguished itself in the Huawei Cloud Certified Developer Associate (HCCDA) program, enrolling 435 students – the most of any university in Pakistan – with over 200 completing the course and earning their certifications in just one month.
Through the Huawei ICT Academy's certification programs, faculty training, curriculum integration, and real-world projects, CUI has significantly enhanced its educational offerings. This transformation not only benefits the students by making them more employable but contributes to the development of a skilled workforce that can drive Pakistan's technological innovation and economic growth.
Faculty development
As a leading university in Pakistan, CUI ensures its faculty are well-versed in the latest technologies, including AI, cloud computing, big data, information security, and cybersecurity. Huawei's contributions extend beyond student education to faculty development. In the past year alone, 32 faculty members at CUI have received training on the Huawei Cloud platform and ModelArts AI platform, facilitated by Huawei Pakistan. These training sessions have equipped the faculty with the latest technological skills and knowledge, which they can pass on to their students.
ICT competition participation
CUI actively supports student participation in the Huawei ICT Competition, including the organization of Huawei ICT roadshows to promote the event (see Figure 1). Each year, hundreds of students register for competitions in the Network, Cloud, and Innovation Tracks. In 2024, CUI's team won the Middle East Regional Final at the Huawei ICT Competition. Moreover, a CUI teacher was recognized as the Most Valuable Instructor (MVI) and invited to the Global MVI forum held in Shenzhen, China. These achievements reinforce CUI's confidence in and dedication to advancing ICT education.
Figure 1: CUI holds Huawei ICT Competition roadshow on its campus
Huawei course and final-year-project integration
CUI places strong emphasis on continuously updating its curriculum to keep pace with the latest technological advancements. CUI has adopted an innovative approach by incorporating Huawei ICT technologies into the final-year projects of its undergraduate Computer Science students. This initiative allows students to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios and enhance their projects through cloud deployment and ModelArts. It also provides opportunities for students to participate in the Innovation Competition at the Huawei ICT Competition, further improving their skills. By engaging in such practical projects, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities, which will be essential for their professional careers.
Job placement and career counseling
CUI provides a robust platform for its graduating students through bi-annual COMSATS Projects and Career Expos, which attract over 100 industrial partners looking to recruit fresh talent. Huawei is a regular participant in these events and also conducts exclusive recruitment drives on campus throughout the year. Thanks to the comprehensive training and certifications provided through the Huawei partnership, CUI's Computer Science (CS) program boasts a remarkable 90% job placement rate. Each year, many graduates from the CS and Engineering programs secure positions at Huawei, reflecting the significant impact of the collaboration on student career outcomes.
Today, many CUI graduates work at Huawei (see Figure 2). Mr. Nouman Butt, who graduated from the Electrical (Electronics) Engineering program of CUI's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has served as a Project Director at Huawei Pakistan for the last 8 years. Mr. Usama Abbassi, a graduate from the CS program, has taken an IT specialist position at Huawei. Mr. Zain Shafiq, another CS graduate, started his career at Huawei and has gone on to obtain a high position in the ICT sector. Another success story is that of Mr. Hamza bin Najam, a CS graduate serving as a Talent Ecosystem Manager at Huawei.
Figure 2: CUI graduates hired by Huawei and Huawei's partners
Looking forward: Cultivating a dynamic ICT talent pipeline for Pakistan
The CUI–Huawei partnership has a bright future. Building on the successes achieved so far, CUI aims to further deepen this collaboration by continuously updating and expanding its curriculum with Huawei's advanced courses. There are also plans to integrate more Huawei ICT skills and technologies into student projects and increase students' participation in Huawei ICT Competitions. Additionally, ongoing faculty development programs will ensure that CUI's educators keep abreast of the latest technological advancements.
With Huawei's continued support, CUI looks forward to a bright future of collaboration, aiming to set new benchmarks in practical education and industry readiness. This partnership not only benefits the students and faculty of CUI but positions the university as a leading institution in bridging the gap between education and industry. CUI is committed to nurturing a highly skilled and innovative workforce that can contribute to technological progress and economic growth in Pakistan.
