NCA Lahore signs MoU with German film university in Berlin

BERLIN: The National college of Arts (NCA) Lahore and German film university Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Potsdam, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 30, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin.

Under the MoU, both institutions agreed to cooperate on academic programmes, training & joint ventures, student residency and exchange programs in the film department.

Dr. Murtaza Jafri, Principal NCA told Geo.tv that it is first time the university has signed an MoU with a German film university. Babelsberg is itself a prestigious institute for film and cinema. Both partners are very keen to start student exchange program as soon as possible, he added. However, detailed terms & conditions such as number of students, cost of travel and duration of exchange program are yet to be finalised.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany Jauhar Saleem appreciated the efforts of NCA for promotion of arts and culture. In a meeting at the chancery, the ambassador assured Dr. Jafri of full support of the mission in regard to the exchange programmes.

More than 4,000 Pakistani students are studying in several German universities. Due to higher standards of research and innovation in German universities, many students opt for business or engineering subjects while the numbers are low in the arts and culture studies.

Exchange programmes in the film sector will also encourage German filmmakers to experience the rising film industry of Pakistan.