Akwa Ibom State University has secured a landmark partnership with the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,, Qingdao, China.
A memorandum of understanding signed by authorities from both institutions on Tuesday indicates that the partnership covers scholarships, joint laboratory setup, research, bench work, joint funding applications, exchange programs, and other areas of mutual interest.
The programmes expected to benefit from the partnership, include but not limited to; Marine Sciences (Marine Chemistry, Marine Geology, Marine Biology, Physical Oceanography, Marine Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, and Materials Science and Engineering).
The delegation from AKSU was received by the Director, Professor Fan Wang (IOCAS), Prof. Zhang Ruiyong (Researcher, IOCAS), Prof. Sand Wolfsburg (Researcher, IOCAS), and Other IOCAS Directors, Staff and Students of the Academy.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Otoabasi Akpan, said the partnership is one of several international collaborations that will propel the university to enviable heights in research and global visibility.
The Director of Advancement, International Collaborations and Linkages, AKSU, Dr Ini-ibehe Nabuk, said a core deliverable of the partnership hinges on an exchange programme, where students will have the opportunity to visit both institutions for research opportunities.
The Vice-Chancellor and the team also attended an invited academic lecture by Professor Chunli Bai (Former President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS), before touring the Navy Park, Huangdao, Qingdao.
The team also visited a key State Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials and the Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Biofuel in the Institute.
