USTM, Gabonese ministry ink MoU for academic research

GUWAHATI, June 18: University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the ministry of higher education of the central African country of Gabon to promote and support educational and intercultural activities and projects.
The agreement was signed by Dr Patrick Mouguiama Daouda, minister of higher education and scientific research, Gabon, and Prof GD Sharma, vice-chancellor USTM and president, Association of Indian Universities.
The term of this MoU will be five academic years.
The Gabonese minister of higher education, along with Josephine Patricia Ntyam-Ehya, first counsellor, Embassy of Gabon in India, and other delegates from the country, visited the university on Saturday and took part in an interactive session with students and faculty members of the university.
Addressing the session, Mouguiama Daouda expressed his desire to work on inter-university projects and highlighted the importance of the mobility of teacher-researchers and students for higher education.
“The pact will be a tool to forge a partnership, especially between USTM and other universities in Gabon. Our students can study digital courses for the first three years and travel to India to pursue further studies,” he said.
“In the same way, Indian students can travel to Gabon for further studies. I assure you that Gabon is very capable of taking charge of the students who come to our country for higher studies. Gabon has a policy of social assistance for the students and it is a very strong policy,” the minister said.
Addressing the gathering, USTM chancellor Mahbubul Hoque said, “We are collaborating with other countries for student, faculty and staff exchange and collaborative research. Our university is heading towards becoming a teaching-learning destination for global students.”