With the support of YTÜ, TİKA, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has been opened at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. The laboratory aims to facilitate collaborative research between researchers from both countries and to develop human-centered artificial intelligence applications. The laboratory’s curriculum will be developed with the support of our university.

Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ), the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was established within the Faculty of Computer and Information Technologies at the University of the Punjab. The opening ceremony was attended by Mehmet Eymen Şimşek, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey; Ali Ercan, Deputy Chairman of TIKA; Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mahmood Saleem, Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology Prof. Dr. Shahzad Sarwar, Dr. Kamran Malik, and the faculty’s academic staff. 

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, who participated in the ceremony online from Istanbul, spoke about academic cooperation between the two countries and human-centered artificial intelligence research.

Turkey-Pakistan friendship is strengthened through scientific research

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, stated that the friendship between Turkey and Pakistan holds a strong place in the memories and hearts of both societies. Noting that universities must carry this closeness into the future through joint research and academic work, our Rector emphasized that the laboratory opened at Punjab University represents a significant step in this direction.

From Pakistan visits to a joint laboratory

Recalling that he visited Pakistan last February with a YTÜ academic delegation and Yıldız Technopark executives to attend the INDUS Artificial Intelligence Summit, our Rector noted that during the visit, they had the opportunity to get to know the country’s universities and technology ecosystem up close. He noted that during the meetings, they reached an agreement on collaborating in various fields, ranging from research to entrepreneurship.

Our Rector stated that they revisited Pakistan in September with a delegation led by Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), noted that the protocol signed on September 14 with the University of the Punjab and TIKA established the framework for cooperation in the field of human-centered artificial intelligence. He stated that the opening of the laboratory marked a new phase in this partnership.

Human and Ethical Values in Artificial Intelligence Research

Noting that artificial intelligence has transformed the ways in which knowledge is generated and utilized, as well as scientific research methods, our Rector emphasized that universities bear the responsibility to safeguard human rights and ethical values throughout this process.

Our Rector said that the phrase “human-centered” in the laboratory’s name is therefore significant. Stating that human beings, society, and fundamental rights must be safeguarded in artificial intelligence research, he indicated that the work to be conducted at the laboratory will also be shaped by this understanding.

Curriculum Development Support from YTÜ

YTÜ is providing academic support to the University of the Punjab to develop the curriculum for the educational activities to be conducted at the laboratory. The educational content aims to include not only current developments in the field of artificial intelligence but also the impacts of technology on humans, society, and ethics.

These efforts aim to help students develop their technical competencies and adopt a human-centered approach to artificial intelligence. YTÜ’s contributions also support the expansion of the partnership between the two universities in the fields of education and research.

Joint research and knowledge sharing will be supported

The Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is designed to enable researchers, academics, and students to share their knowledge and experience, carry out joint projects, and develop human-centered applications.

The laboratory is expected to strengthen scientific cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan and contribute to the research capacity of both countries in the field of artificial intelligence.