UNIOSUN collaborates with Harvard University as representative visits Osun

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

In line with its vision to be a centre of excellence, providing high-quality teaching and learning experiences which will engender the production of entrepreneurial graduates capable of impacting positively on their environment while being globally competitive, the management of Osun State University, under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor ‘Ayo Adebooye will on Tuesday, meet with the representatives of the Centre for African Studies (CAS), Harvard University, to map out terms of the collaboration between the two universities.

A statement by the university Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji stated that the university has entered into numerous international partnerships and collaborations over the years in an attempt to create visibility for itself within emerging global systems of higher education.

It would be recalled that the university in 2021 renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the Gambia to expand the scope of its staff and students exchange programme. The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), a reputable global body that has over 500 member institutions in 50 countries across the commonwealth. “We belong to the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), Association of African Universities (AAU), West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA), the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN), among others.

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“We also have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to establish a framework for coordination and cooperation that will facilitate the conduct of cooperative activities in the areas of mutual interest, especially molecular sciences.

“This partnership with Harvard University is aimed at fostering academic engagement and administrative competence in Osun State University. It is clear from the programme document that both the academic and administrative arms of our university will benefit from this new partnership,” the statement said.

The Harvard team of representatives would be led by the Oppenheimer Faculty Director of the University Centre for African Studies, Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong.

The UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor ‘Ayo Adebooye while speaking on the upcoming collaboration between the two universities expressed positivity about the collaboration.

“Networking, partnership and collaboration are the keys in the global knowledge industry today. A serious university in the 21st century must not isolate itself because knowledge has no boundary. Researchers in modern times must cross coordinates and even continents to cross-fertilize ideas so as to produce and propagate knowledge. Therefore, this partnership with Harvard University is coming at the right time. I want to thank our Chancellor, Apostle Dr Folorunso Alakija for using her network to create this great and uncommon opportunity for our University.

“On behalf of Council and Senate of our University, I want to assure Harvard University that we will seriously keep and implement the terms of the partnership,” Professor Adebooye added.