The University of Nigeria, Nsukka has initiated a strategic scholarship partnership with the University of Waterloo in Canada, as well as a fully funded Chinese PhD for one of its lecturers.
The two milestones are both outcomes of an intentional internationalisation agenda driven by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Simon Ortuanya
The Professor, who was appointed last year, received a four-man delegation from the University of Waterloo, Canada, on Monday to iron out details of the partnership with the university’s management. This is the latest of the two milestones, and it ended with both parties signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The new partnership will be leveraged by students for Joint research, Workers and Students Exchange programs, Capacity building, and academic collaboration across disciplines. Ortuanya pointed out that the strategic partnership with the Canadian university is a direct product of his initiative since assuming office.
“I was barely three months in office when I visited the University of Waterloo. I am happy that the journey I made is bearing fruits of partnership today,” he said.
“By this agreement, we are telling the world that we are now one in research, innovation and partnership. Workers and students of UNN can now consider the University of Waterloo as an extension of their institution, and vice versa,” Ortuanya added.
Mr Grant Leach, lead of the Canadian delegation, hailed UNN’s vision and commitment, saying that the partnership will benefit both institutions by fostering research and innovative academic work.
UNN Lecturer Secures Chinese PhD Funding
The earlier milestone by the University is a fully funded PHD scholarship for one of its lecturers. Mr. Henry Ugwu of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering secured a fully funded Chinese Government scholarship to pursue a PhD in Computer Science and Technology at Hunan University, China.
The scholarship can be traced directly to a recent engagement between UNN’s VC and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Abuja, where both parties discussed technology transfer, Scholarship Opportunities, and strategic research for UNN staff and Students.
