The Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Georgia, United States (U.S.), to enhance academic, research, professional and institutional collaborations.

The MoU also include staff mobility, students’ exchange, conferences, seminars, as well as joint grant initiatives between the two universities, particularly with ABUAD’s College of Social & Management Sciences and other relevant faculties, institutes and departments within the University of Georgia.

A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, said that the MoU, signed by Prof. David Olali of the University of Georgia and ABUAD’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, underscored and acknowledged the mutual benefits derivable to both parties.

According to Olofintila, the benefits range from staff mobility, students’ exchange, collaborative research, conferences, seminars and joint grant initiatives.

He said that the two universities would explore join application for international research grants, fellowships, endowments, and donor-funded projects, collaboration on proposals to foundations, development agencies, governmental and multilateral organisations, establishment of collaborative research centres, innovation hubs, policy laboratories and training workshops on grant writing, research management, and academic publishing.

Olofintila added that each of the two institutions would be responsible for funding its participation and involvement in activities developed under the agreement, subject to the availability of funds and internal budgetary approvals.

In her remark, Olarinde described the development as inspiring and in tandem with ABUAD’s vision of maintaining an excellent track record with the overall aim of institutionalising qualitative, functional and impactful education.

According to the vice chancellor, research is an expensive venture, hence the need to collaborate with others to ensure adequate funding, adding that universities all over the world stand to gain more through collaborations than going about research all alone.

In his own remark, Olali, who expressed excitement to be in ABUAD, affirmed that the seriousness he found in the 16-year-old university is second to none.

“We will build on the good works you have already started. As a matter of fact, we met you in motion and so, it will not be difficult for us to join you in the race that you have already started.

“On our part, we are looking forward to an ambitious collaboration. My desire is that very soon, universities in the Western world will begin to emulate ABUAD, the pace setter. This is a serious-minded university.”