The African University of Science and Technology (www.aust.edu.ng/) (AUST), Abuja is to
collaborate with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT),
Thailand.
This Day Online (www.thisdayonline.com) has
highlighted the initiative for collaboration between the African
University of Science and Technology and AIT. Earlier an AIT delegation
representating the Asia-Africa Initiative (AAI) had visited Africa from
June 14-25, 2009. The delegation was led by Prof Vilas Wuwongse and
included Dr Roland Amoussou-Guenou, lecturer in School of Management
and School of Engineering and Technology. The delegation had visited
Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. The purpose of this visit was to explore
collaboration opportunities between AIT and selected African Government
agencies, organizations and universities in order to support Africa in
promoting higher education in science and technology for sustainable
development.
The Asia-Africa Initiative was officially established in AIT in 2006
after a thorough research study and background work by a dedicated AIT
team. The AAI aims at serving as a driving force to strengthen
South-South cooperation in the area of higher learning in science and
technology. It has received approval and support from the Royal Thai
Government, UN agencies and Thai Universities.
www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=148093
Counterpart
From Paul Akan Obi and Iliya Thaddeus in Abuja,
07.07.2009
The African University of Science and Technology(www.aust.edu.ng/)
(AUST), Abuja is to collaborate with the Asian Institute of Technology
(AIT), Thailand. President of AUST, Prof. Hilary Inyang said at a forum
organised for the visiting AIT scholars, that his institution was
disposed to collaborating with AIT in the area of research in order to
transfer technological knowledge to Africans, "Africa must be ready to
borrow from elsewhere in order for us to attain that strata of
advancement."
On what African educational institutions should do to accelerate
scientific development, Inyang said the continent must tap from its
pool of intellect, blaming the continent's poor technology credentials
on the lack of capacity to tap from its intellect, adding that "the
issue of trade protectionism has impinged on scientific and
technological development of Africa."
Prof. Wuwongse Vilas, who represented AIT in the session, stressed the
need for science-based education that is production- oriented, "our
mission is in science and technology, therefore, we are very ready to
establish links with AUST, in order to foster Africa's development,
Vilas stated.
The two institutions are to sign a Memorandum of Collaboration, which
will facilitate the exchange of programmes. Areas of agreement will
dwell on academic exchange programmes, research, testing and
supervision.