The National Skills University (NSU) Islamabad has entered into a transformative skills-education partnership with Shandong Xinxu International Corporation, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s higher education and applied skills development landscape.
The Letter of Understanding (LoU) signing ceremony was held in Islamabad, with the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, gracing the occasion as Chief Guest. The LoU was signed on behalf of Shandong Xinxu International Corporation by Ms. Tracy Li, Chief Executive Officer, while Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Founding Vice Chancellor of NSU, represented the university. Senior university leadership and a high-level delegation from the Chinese partner company were also present, underscoring the strategic importance of the collaboration.
Under the agreement, Shandong Xinxu International Corporation will make an initial investment of USD 30 million to upgrade NSU’s academic infrastructure, laboratories, workshops, and training ecosystems in line with international vocational and applied technology standards. As part of this commitment, Xinxu will also provide land for the establishment of a National Skills University campus in Karachi, Pakistan’s economic hub, with an initial allocation of USD 10 million from the committed funds.
The partnership will focus on modernizing curricula through applied, competency-based education models inspired by China’s advanced vocational system, particularly the Zibo Polytechnic framework. Key areas of integration include Industry 4.0 technologies, smart manufacturing, automation, digital construction, renewable energy systems, and advanced applied engineering, translating policy-level cooperation into practical classroom, laboratory, and workshop outcomes.
To ensure effective implementation and strategic oversight, the Parties shall establish a Joint Steering Committee (JSC). Given Xinxu’s substantial long-term investment, implementation responsibilities, and contributions to facilities, laboratories, and systems developed under this collaboration, operations shall be governed under a joint governance framework, with Xinxu holding a majority strategic interest, subject to applicable laws, regulations, and statutory approvals. National Skills University Islamabad shall retain its public-sector university status, while enhanced executive authority for international programs and collaborative initiatives will be exercised through Xinxu-nominated leadership, in close coordination with NSU’s statutory governance structures.
Faculty development forms a central pillar of the collaboration. Chinese experts will support training-of-trainers programs, co-teaching arrangements, and localization of academic content, enabling a gradual transition of academic leadership to Pakistani faculty while elevating instructional quality across disciplines.
For Pakistani youth, the partnership offers tangible benefits through internships, apprenticeships, and structured employment pipelines linked to domestic industry, CPEC Phase-II projects, and international labor markets, enhancing employability both within Pakistan and abroad.
A key outcome of the agreement is the planned establishment of a new NSU campus in Karachi, envisioned as a flagship center for advanced vocational training, applied engineering, maritime and logistics education, and industry-connected programs aligned with ports, manufacturing clusters, and export-oriented industries.
During the ceremony, officials highlighted that the role of the Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training will be catalytic, providing regulatory facilitation, coordination, and strategic support to ensure alignment with Pakistan’s TVET reforms, the National Skills Strategy, the NVQF framework, and the Higher Education Commission guidelines.
According to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, the initiative reflects NSU’s core mission of transforming skills into national assets and preparing youth as globally competitive professionals.
In his closing remarks, the Federal Minister noted that while Pakistan has signed numerous memorandums with international partners, few integrate capital investment, infrastructure development, curriculum reform, faculty capacity building, and new campus creation within a single public-sector framework. In this regard, the NSU–Xinxu agreement stands out not as a ceremonial document but as a practical, implementable roadmap for sustainable skills-led development.
