Print

Arba Minch University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, to further cooperation in education and academic research on 1st April, 2017. Academic exchange will be main channel to bring mutual benefits to both parties.

This five-year agreement can be reviewed for possible extension that is subject to revision by mutual understanding. The details of further modalities including financial obligation, etc. will be hammered out in the later stage, it’s learnt.

Academic exchange will be the soul of this collaboration, as both parties are supposed to be engaged into research of mutual benefits. Exchange of faculties, staff, scientific materials, publications, information and other activities agreed upon by parties will shape the ties.

More importantly, according to MoU, both parties will be collaborating on issues like natural resource management, agro-forestry and biodiversity aspects, etc.

AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza, and Mendel University Rector, Prof. Ladislav Havelhave signed the agreement. This cooperation is stated to be steered by Research Directorate on behalf of AMU, Research Directorate Director, Dr Simon Shibru, informed.

He further said that a two-day international symposium will be held at AMU from 20th to 21st November, 2017, will mark the beginning of this collaboration. Research works from across the world on natural resource management, forestry and in-tropics & sub-tropics, agro-forestry, sustainable agriculture in-tropics and sub-tropics agro-biodiversity will be invited. The first day will have all selected presentations followed by excursion.

On array of benefits AMU can hope for, he said, ‘‘Possibly a project proposal of common interest can be developed, grants can be sought and even we can work together for technology transfer, get our laboratories equipped and academic exchange will accrue what we are hoping for.’’

He quipped that Mendel University has great infrastructure and their research potential is far more superior, therefore, getting connected to them is a privilege; their expertise and our environment which is the living laboratory for many researches on slew of areas will prove to be a boon.

(Corporate Communication Directorate)