Caption: State University of Papua Rector Dr Suriel Mofu shakes hand with FNU Vice Chancellor Dr Ganesh Chand after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Fiji National University (FNU) and the State University of Papua (UNIPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week, to formalise the existing relationship between the two institutions.
Earlier this year, FNU and UNIPA signed a Letter of Intent that enabled both parties to promote cultural, educational and scholarly exchange as well as collaboration and technical interchange.
Today’s MOU signifies the growing relationship between the two universities as both embark on ways to benefit from each other.
The UNIPA delegation at the ceremony was headed by UNIPA Rector, Dr Suriel Mofu, along with two members of staff from the University, as well as members of the Indonesian Embassy.
Dr Mofu acknowledged FNU for the opportunity and said they have a lot to learn from the University.
“We have a very new medicine college that will benefit a lot from FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; we hope to not only send our students over for studies but our lecturers too.
“We are very interested to work with FNU in the business and tourism aspects also. This is only my second visit to Fiji and both times I have come for reasons of official purposes with the University,” he said.
UNIPA offers a unique programme on women and children with their Centre for Women and Children.
Staffs from the Centre are also in Fiji to take part in the 2014 National Women’s Expo.
FNU Vice Chancellor, Dr Ganesh Chand said FNU will learn a lot from UNIPA, particularly their programme in Women and Children.
“We are very happy with this MOU and we will surely learn a lot from each other,” Dr Chand said.
“They have a very new programme on Women and Children that is almost not offered in any other university, so that is definitely an area we will want to tap into – it’s not only important but an area that needs addressing,” he said.
Dr Chand also stressed the MOU will ensure there is continuous exchange between the two institutions. He was hopeful there will be a possibility of forming an association with universities across the region, in order for all of them to advance in education.
The FNU/UNIPA MOU will cover areas such as:
– Exchange of faculty and staff members;
– Exchange of students;
– Indigenous exchanges and exchange of visiting research scholars;
– Encourage (on a completely voluntary basis) the exchange of scientific materials, publications and other information between the institutions;
– Joint research, lectures and symposia; and
– Other activities deemed appropriate by mutual consent.
PRESS RELEASE